Abstract: The invention relates to a real image type finder optical system having an image inverting optical system, which is suitable for reducing the size and cost of cameras while maintaining satisfactory optical performance, and an imaging system comprising the same. The real image type finder optical system comprises an objective lens group 10 having positive refracting power and an eyepiece lens group 30 having positive refracting power. The objective lens group 10 comprises a first group G1 consisting of a negative lens, a second group G2 consisting of a positive lens, a third group G3 consisting of a positive lens, and a fourth group G4 having negative refracting power and forming a part of an image inverting optical system 20. Upon zooming from the wide-angle to the telephoto end, the first group G1 remains fixed, the second and third lens groups G2 and G3 move, and the fourth lens group G4 remains fixed.

Abstract: An electric bending endoscope apparatus includes an electric bending endoscope, a bending control device for controlling a bending direction and the amount of bending of a bending portion based on a bending instructing signal outputted from a track ball in the electric bending endoscope, an image processing device for generating an observing image captured by the electric bending endoscope to a video signal, and a display device for displaying the video signal generated by the image processing device as an endoscope image, wherein the electric bending endoscope includes a bending driving portion for bending the bending portion arranged at an inserting portion, a bending motive portion for driving the bending driving portion, a portion for restoring transmission and disconnection of driving force that reversibly switches a status for transmitting the driving force by transmitting the driving force of the bending motive portion to the bending driving portion and a status for disconnecting the driving force, a p

Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera provided with an eyepiece includes a screen on which an image of an object is projected, a plurality of reflecting surfaces for erecting the image projected on the screen, and an eyepiece with positive refracting power for observing the image. In this case, the eyepiece has, in order from the object side, a first lens component with positive refracting power, a second lens component with positive refracting power, and a third lens component with negative refracting power and satisfies the following conditions: 0.15<tan S<0.35 2.00<fb/Y<5.00 −0.67<f3/f<−0.

Abstract: This invention provides a laser scanning microscope in which a harmonic generator for modulating a laser beam Q having passed through an optical fiber into a laser beam Qb having a wavelength different from that of the laser beam Q, and sending the laser beam Qb to a scanning type optical microscope main body is integrally attached to the scanning type optical microscope main body.

Abstract: A base, a frame, and an arm which constitute a microscope body are formed independently of one another, and receptacles receiving fastening members at the bottom of the frame are formed as protrusions so that the area of contact between the base and the frame is smaller than a predetermined area. The protrusions are formed so that they surround the fastening members. The protrusions increase resistance to heat conduction from the base to the frame to reduce the amount of heat which is generated from the lamp and conducted from the base to the frame. Such an arrangement reduces an image blur due to thermal deformation, thereby providing a good specimen image.

Abstract: An assembling method of a capsule medical apparatus is provided. The capsule medical apparatus includes a sealed capsule container having an image pick-up unit which picks up an image of a portion illuminated by an illuminating unit, and an objective optical system which is arranged in front of the image pick-up unit. The assembling method includes a positioning step of positioning so that a relative position of a reference position of a fixing frame in the objective optical system matches a reference position of an image area of the image pick-up unit, and a fixing step of, after the positioning step, contacting a reference down-surface of the fixing frame with the top surface of the image pick-up unit and fixing the image pick-up unit and the fixing frame.

Abstract: A high-performance real-image finder optical system reduced in size, particularly in thickness, includes a positive objective optical system, an image-inverting optical system for erecting an intermediate image formed by the objective optical system, and a positive ocular optical system. The objective optical system has at least two movable units moving when zooming is performed. A prism is placed on the object side of the intermediate image. At least one reflecting surface of the prism has a rotationally asymmetric surface configuration. At least one reflecting surface of the image-inverting optical system is formed from a roof surface.

Abstract: In the image pickup system of the present invention, factors that have an effect on noise such as the signal level, temperature of the CCD during shooting, exposure time, gain and the like are dynamically acquired, the noise level of the CCD is estimated for example for each pixel by a noise estimating unit, and signal components equal to or less than this noise level in the video signals are suppressed by a noise reducing unit, so that a high-quality image that is substantially free of noise is obtained while preserving the edges of the image and the like.

Abstract: A position adjusting means is provided at an outer periphery of an objective lens opposite to an observation sample and the observation sample is moved by the position adjusting means in an optical axis direction of the objective lens to set a focal point of the objective lens to the observation sample.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an electronic endoscope, a plurality of types of optical adapters, a control device, and a display device. The electronic endoscope includes an imaging unit. The plurality of types of optical adapters includes a predetermined observational optical system and is freely detachably attached to the distal section of the electronic endoscope. The observational optical system incorporated in each optical adapter includes an identification section with which the type of optical adapter is identified. The control device is electrically connected to the electronic endoscope.

Abstract: A deflection angle detecting device includes a light source, a path switching plane switching the optical path of part of light radiated from the light source, a detecting reflection surface placed on the optical path switched by the path switching plane and provided to the light-deflecting element, and a photodetector receiving light reflected by the detecting reflection surface to detect the deflection angle of the light-deflecting element in accordance with the position where the light is received. In this case, a transmission surface with positive power is interposed between the detecting reflection surface and the photodetector.

Abstract: The system controller comprises a character superimposing unit which superimposes desired characters on an endoscopic image and outputs the image, a setting operating unit I/F unit which transmits and receives data to and from an operating panel, a unidirectional infrared I/F unit which performs infrared communications with an infrared remote controller, a bidirectional infrared I/F unit which performs infrared communications with a PDA, a remote controller control I/F unit which transmits and receives data to and from a remote controller, and a serial communications I/F unit which performs serial communications, and is constructed so that these parts are connected to an internal bus. A CPU which controls the interior of the system controller is connected to the internal bus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a zoom lens that enables an optical path to be easily bent and has high optical specification performance such as a high zoom ratio, a wide-angle arrangement, a small F-number and limited aberrations. The zoom lens comprises, in order from its object side, a lens group A (G1) that comprises a negative lens, a reflecting optical element P for bending the optical path and remains fixed upon zooming, a lens group B (G2) that moves in one direction alone upon zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end of the zoom lens and an aperture stop S that remains immovable with respect to position upon zooming. The zoom lens satisfies condition (1) with respect to the degree of change in the magnification of the lens group B from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end.

Abstract: When an endoscopic imaging system is employed in, for example, the department of otorhinology, a color processing expansion substrate, a still image production expansion substrate, and a still image compression/recording substrate are stacked on an expansion connector formed on a main substrate and are thus connected to the main substrate. A data bus and an address bus extending from a control unit mounted on the main substrate are linked to the expansion substrates. A sync signal generator outputs various kinds of sync signals including a clock signal CLK, a horizontal sync signal HD, a vertical sync signal VD, a field identification signal FLD, and a composite sync signal CSYNC to the expansion substrates.

Abstract: Three magnetic field generating coils on the distal end side of the shape detection probe are provided in the curvable portion, and the first coil at the leading end position is placed at the position corresponding to the leading end curvable piece, whereas the third coil at the position corresponding to the trailing end curvable piece. Further, the second coil is placed at a middle position between the leading end curvable piece and the trailing end curvable piece in the curvable portion. With this structure, the accuracy of detecting the shape of the curvable portion can be improved, and the production cost of the system as a whole can be lowered.

Abstract: In a microscope, an optical system that includes a zoom lens unit having a straight optical axis is located under a stage portion that carries a sample A thereon. An optical image of the sample A is projected on an image-pickup element via the optical system, and is converted into a picture signal by means of the image-pickup element. The picture signal is delivered to the outside through an external terminal area.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system equipped with an electronic viewfinder suitable for compactness and having a sufficient angle of viewing field and satisfactory optical performance, especially the ability to prevent harmful light. The imaging system comprises an image pickup optical system, an image pickup device for receiving a light beam guided by the image pickup optical system, an image display device for displaying an image thereon, a controller for converting image information obtained from the image pickup device into signals capable of being displayed on the image display device, and a viewing optical system for guiding an image appearing on the image display device to a viewer's eye. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from an image display device side, one negative lens and one positive lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic imaging system such a video camera or digital camera, whose thickness or size is reduced while performance degradation is reduced as much as possible. The system comprises a zoom lens system comprising a first G1, a second G2, a third G3 and a fourth lens group G4 and an aperture stop S, and an electronic image pickup device located on its image side I and covered with a cover glass CG. The image of a subject is formed on the photoreceptive surface of the electronic image pickup device for conversion into electric signals. The system satisfies the following conditions (1) and (2).

Abstract: A focal length measuring device comprises a light source unit for generating a collimated light, a diffraction grating for deflecting the collimated light by a deflection angle &thgr;, and an image-pickup element for measuring a position of a focused spot light after the deflected light passes the lens to be tested. The diffracting grating is disposed near a front focal plane of the lens to be tested. The image-pickup element is disposed near a rear focal plane of the lens to be tested. A focal length is calculated according to a relationship such as h=f tan &thgr; under condition that h indicates an image height as a distance from the optical axis. By doing this, it is possible to measure the focal length accurately and easily while restricting an influence of a depth of focus and an aberration.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus records an image by scanning, relatively to a recording medium, a line-type recording head unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to a predetermined direction, wherein the line-type recording head unit includes a plurality of recording heads disposed in the predetermined direction and each recording head has a plurality of recording elements disposed in a direction substantially the same as the predetermined direction and of which recording widths overlapping each other partially. The image recording apparatus includes a correction data generator for producing correction data for correcting characteristics of recording elements at two-dimensional positions on the recording medium, and an adjustment unit for adjusting an input image signal inputted to the recording elements at two-dimensional positions, on the basis of the correction data.