Abstract: An electronic flash apparatus has a plurality of flashlight projectors comprising flash discharge tubes and reflecting shades for said discharge tubes which projectors are juxtaposed with an opening of each reflecting shade substantially in the same direction, being the depth of said reflecting shades in the projectors constructed so as to be able to establish the substantially same amount of the flashlight emission as with the conventional electronic flash apparatus can be greatly reduced as compared therewith, thereby minimizing the size of the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus is further minimized by disposing a main capacitor for the flashlight emission of the flash discharge tube so as to project into a recess formed between adjacent ones of the plurality of reflecting shades.

Abstract: A camera includes an entry member which commands spotwise photometric means to effect the entry of spotwise brightness value or values of an object being photographed. A spotwise photometric mode is selected in response to a first operation of the entry member, and the entry of a spotwise brightness value or values occurs in response to a second and subsequent operation of the entry member. Spotwise brightness values and a result of an arithmetic operation performed thereon are nullified in response to the completion of a photographing operation in the spotwise photometric mode while maintaining the spotwise photometric mode. Exposure factors used when controlling an exposure by an automatic exposure control means are stored, thereby enabling a photographing operation or operations to be repeated under the same exposure level as that used during a previous photographing operation, by utilizing such exposure factors.

Abstract: An electrophotographic process employs an electrophotographic photosensitive member of a basic construction in which a photoconductive layer and a transparent insulator layer are sequentially laminated on the surface of a conductive supporter. The process in one preferred embodiment comprises a first step of providing a primary charge uniformly from the surface side of the transparent insulator layer, a second step of performing a secondary corona charging during an imagewise exposure by applying an a.c. voltage in which the firing angle of a negative half wave is controlled in phase to be within a phase angle corresponding to a lower voltage than the firing angle so that the positive discharge period may be longer than the negative one during one period, and a third step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the transparent insulator layer by applying a uniform exposure.

Abstract: A speed control apparatus for a d.c. motor includes a bridge circuit which operates to detect a speed error signal. The speed error signal is applied to a Schmidt trigger circuit, an output of which is used to cause a switching operation of a power supply circuit for the motor in order to control the speed thereof. The apparatus minimizes power dissipation and improves efficiency.

Abstract: An indicator for proper or improper exposure provided by automatic electronic flash includes a first decision circuit having a first decision level lower than a proper level of exposure, and a second decision circuit having a second decision level higher than the proper level of exposure. Thus, a given film latitude is allowed for the overexposure and the underexposure in determining and displaying the overexposure, the underexposure or proper exposure.

Abstract: A toner cleaning unit is provided for use in an electrophotographic copying machine to remove residual toner from a photosensitive drum after the transfer of a toner image onto a copy sheet and prior to formation of another electrostatic latent image thereon. The unit comprises a cleaning blade which is disposed for selective contact with the photosensitive drum to collect any residual toner, and an intercept member disposed adjacent to the blade for intercepting any toner which might freely fall from a pile of toner defined in the region of contact between the blade and the drum. By moving the blade away from the photosensitive drum, the pile of toner may be conveyed to a developing unit as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus projects a light beam toward an object whose distance is to be determined. Reflected light from the object is divided into a pair of light components by a beam splitter. The intensity of one of the light components is detected by first light intensity detector. The other light component is subject to an alteration in intensity in accordance with an angle formed between the illuminating light and the reflected light, and the intensity of the said other light component is detected by second light intensity detector. The outputs from both detector is fed to a circuit, which derives information indicative of a distance to the object being determined.

Abstract: An exposure control circuit associated with TTL automatic electronic flash includes a diaphragm control circuit. When the electronic flash is mounted on a TTL direct photometry camera capable of photometry of reflection from a film surface in order to take a picture with the aid of the electronic flash, the diaphragm control circuit assures the emission of light from the electronic flash in a reliable manner, by automatically establishing a diaphragm value between a given diaphragm value and a minimum diaphragm value, the established diaphragm value assuring a proper exposure with an exposure period which is closely synchronized with the operation of the electronic flash.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the emission of an electronic flash is provided, which is used with a photographic camera of the type in which the photometry of reflection from a film surface is effected. The apparatus calculates an exposure period on the basis of TTL photometric value which prevails before shutter release, displays such exposure period, compares it against a synchronized period, and causes an integrating operation of a photocurrent to be delayed a given time interval if it is decided that the calculated period is greater than the synchronized period.

Abstract: A photometric apparatus for a camera includes a diode for logarithmic compression and a semiconductor analog switch in series connection between an output terminal of a first operational amplifier and a second operational amplifier forming an integration circuit by connecting a photoelectric transducer element for a photometry purpose. A logarithimic compression signal for an exposure display and a photocurrent integration signal for an exposure control are derived from the first and the second operational amplifier, respectively.

Abstract: A focussing condition detector effects a photoelectric conversion of a focussing condition on the imaging plane of a focussing lens. An output from the conversion is subject to an arithmetic operation which derives an evaluation value according to a given formula. The evaluation value is compared against a decision level in order to produce a decision output which indicates whether the focussing condition achieved by the focussing lens is in an in-focus or an out-of-focus condition. A decision level is offset from a threshold value between two regions each representing the in-focus and the out-of-focus condition, respectively, in both directions. When an evaluation value moves from the region representing the in-focus condition into the other region representing the out-of-focus condition, one of the decision levels which is offset in one direction from the threshold value is used. When the evaluation value moves in the opposite direction, the other decision level is used.

Abstract: A camera of the automatic exposure control type includes a protective cover which is movable between a closed position where it covers a taking lens and a photometric assembly and an open position where it permits them to be uncovered completely. The camera also includes an exposure control switch which is either opened or closed in ganged relationship with a movement of the protective cover to its open position, allowing an output from the photometric assembly to be supplied to an exposure controller.

Abstract: A shiftable lens hood for a camera includes a light-intercepting body which has its front end representing a sectional form taken on a plane inclined to the center axis thereof of which is secured to a lens barrel of the camera, in eccentric relationship with its mounting section, whereby even when a taking lens is shifted effective light rays within a photographing angle of view are not shaded, thus an effective light-intercepting effect being obtainable.

Abstract: An apparatus for reflection photometry of a single lens reflex camera includes a first shutter blind, the surface of which exhibits a reflectivity which is nearly one-half the reflectivity of a film surface. During the time a photoelectric transducer element, used for photometry, receives light reflection from the surface of the first blind, an output from a photometric circuit is doubled so as to be substantially equal to the output produced when the transducer element receives light reflection from the film surface during the running of the first blind.

Abstract: A fluid pipetting method is to pipette and distribute a fluid into a plurality of vessels by means of a single probe. In pipetting operations, a cleaning liquid, an air layer and the total sum of the fluid including a part of surplus, the total of the fluid to be pipetted and a part of waste are picked up into the probe in the order listed and an amount of pipetting the fluid into respective vessels is controlled in accordance with the pipetting order in such a manner that the amount of the fluid pipetted and distributed into each of vessels is substantially a given value.