Abstract: An electric power control device for a camera is provided. The electric power control device includes an electric power source, a monitoring processor, a detecting processor and a control processor in a camera body. The electric power source provides power to an accessory, such as a photographing lens that can be attached to the camera body. The monitoring processor monitors the electric power and the detecting processor detects whether the electric power is abnormal based on a signal from the monitoring processor.

Abstract: Provided is a camera capable of contributing reductions in the number of components and manufacturing costs. A holding member is mounted on a top portion of a camera body. A block portion for holding a device for range-finding, a finder and so on, a semicylindrical portion for holding a battery, and a plate portion for holding a gear train of the camera body are integrally combined to form the holding member. Therefore, the number of components of the camera can be reduced, thereby resulting in a reduction in the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A focal-length adjusting unit for photographing apparatuses includes a distance-measuring means for detecting the amount of defocus to an object by using a light beam of the object passing through a photographing optical system; at least two optical elements located in an optical path for distance measurement, deflecting incident light from the object to introduce the light into an image sensor or a distance-measuring sensor; a variable optical-property element constituting at least one of the optical elements, capable of changing the deflection of light in accordance with an applied voltage or an applied current; and a voltage applying means or a current applying means for applying a voltage or a current in accordance with the distance-measuring output of the distance-measuring means. In this case, before a distance measurement is made by the distance-measuring means, the function of light deflection of the variable optical-property element is set to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus comprises a positioning dowel which rotatably supports a shaft of a driving member so as not to have a backlash. The positioning dowel is formed on a lens holding frame. A rack part and a coil spring mounting dowel are formed on the driving member. A coil spring is mounted on the coil spring mounting dowel of the driving member, and the rack part of the driving member is pressed against a feed screw of a motor by using the positioning dowel of the lens holding frame as a rotation fulcrum. The lens driving apparatus has an elastic rotating force in a direction along which the lens holding frame is made to abut a second guide pole, and a moment in a direction along which the lens holding frame is pressed against the second guide pole by self-weight of the lens holding frame, including the lens, is added to the elastic rotating force.

Abstract: An electric flash according to the present invention comprises a flash source for emitting flash light to illuminate a subject, a trigger noise detecting part for detecting trigger noise generated from a master-side flash, and a flash control part for controlling the flashing of the flash source in synchronization with the trigger noise detected by the trigger noise detecting part. By detecting the trigger noise generated at the flashing or the like of the master-side flash which is arranged close thereto, the electric flash carries out a slave flash in synchronization with the flash timing of the master-side flash.

Abstract: An engagement structure for cylindrical members includes a first cylindrical member including a plurality of engagement projection portions of different shapes having the same projecting length in the radial direction, and a second cylindrical member including a plurality of groove portions corresponding to the engagement projection portions, each the groove portions having at least one groove, wherein one of the first and second cylindrical members is accommodated inside the other of the first and second cylindrical members. The engagement projection portions and the corresponding groove portions can be engaged and disengaged only at one relative circumferential position of the first and second cylindrical members, and at a relative circumferential position other than the one relative circumferential position, the engagement projection portions of the first cylindrical member are always engaged with at least a portion of the groove portions other than the grooves thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a variable power lens barrel including a first lens unit that is positioned nearest to the subject side, and a cam barrel having the first cam, wherein the first cam alternately and continuously has a plurality of variable power cam portions that drive the first lens unit for varying power thereof in the optical axis direction and a plurality of focus cam portions that drive the first lens unit driven by the respective variable power cam portions for focusing in the optical axis, and an amount of lift of the focus cam portion of the first cam, which drives the first lens unit, in the optical axis direction at the telephoto end is smaller than an amount of lift of the focus cam portion of the first cam, which drives the first lens unit, in the optical axis direction at other variable power positions.

Abstract: To prevent temporary reduction of battery voltage when driving a shutter, an exposure control drive apparatus is provided with a boosting circuit for boosting a voltage of the battery and outputting a boosted voltage. A capacitor is charged by the boosted voltage for driving an actuator of an exposure control mechanism. A detecting circuit detects a current flowing in the boosting circuit and a control circuit controls operation of the boosting circuit in accordance with a magnitude of the detected value so that the boosting circuit is prevented from boosting the battery voltage when the detected current exceeds a predetermined level and is permitted to boost the battery voltage when the detected current is below the predetermined level. In this manner, the current flowing from the battery is prevented from exceeding a maximum level.

Abstract: A focal point detection apparatus that includes a sub-mirror constituted of a concave mirror and performs focal point detection in the phase difference detection method is capable of implementing a focal point detection over a wide range. A light flux for focal point detection having passed through a semi-transmissive reflecting member and a reflecting member constituted of the concave mirror described above enters a focal point detection optical system. A correction optical system provided between the semi-transmissive reflecting member and the reflecting member constituted of the concave mirror corrects an offset of the direction along which the light flux for focal point detection advances caused by the reflecting member constituted of the concave mirror, in conformance to the image height at the focal point detection position. By utilizing this correction optical system, it becomes possible to reduce the size of the focal point detection apparatus while assuring a large focal point detection area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a focus detecting device consisting mainly of a light receiving sensor, a reflecting mirror, a first detection circuit, and a focus detection circuit. The light receiving sensor has a plurality of photoelectric converters. The reflecting mirror is movable between a first position at which the reflecting mirror reflects light that comes from an objective, and routes the light to the light receiving sensor, and a second position at which the reflecting mirror recedes from the path of the light coming from the objective. The reflecting mirror has a member that helps form light distributions in a predetermined field on the light receiving sensor. Moreover, the reflecting mirror makes a return from the first position to the second position or vice versa. The first detection circuit detects a change in the light distributions formed in the predetermined field on the light receiving sensor which is observed between before and after the reflecting mirror makes a return.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus suitable for fixing an optical unit thereto, and a method for controlling a device in the unit from the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a unit fixing portion for fixing the unit thereto; a driver which runs the device in the unit; a controller which controls the driver and includes a primary controller; and a detector which finds running properties of the driver. The primary controller makes the driver work before an aimed running so as to run the device in the unit up to a set amount in a set timing, and makes the detector find running properties of the driver at the same time. During the aimed running, the controller makes the driver work, referencing to running properties found by the detector.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical apparatus comprising an optical member constituting the optical apparatus, memory means for memorizing preset information, control means for selectively executing preset drive controls of plural kinds utilizing the preset information memorized in the memory means, in response to a memory instructing operation for the optical member, and memory instructing operation means to be used in common for the memory instruction operation for the preset drive controls of the plural kinds.

Abstract: There are provided a rangefinder device which is capable of detecting that improper distance measurement through glass or the like has been performed, even when the glass is positioned at a certain or considerable distance from the camera, and a camera incorporating the rangefinder device. A projecting section projects a signal beam towards a photographic subject, and a light receiving section receives light from the photographic subject due to the projection via two different light paths. A distance information calculating circuit calculates distance information related to a distance to the photographic subject from the positional relationship between images received by the light receiving section. A position calculating circuit calculates first position information related to positions of the images received by the light receiving section based upon the calculated distance information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating an image having a desired brightness, which image is generated by means of a device provided with at least one light source, at least one electro-optical light modulation panel and at least one light-control device. The light from the light source is converted into an image having a desired brightness via at least the electro-optical light modulation panel and the light-control device. The image to be projected is analyzed in a regulator, whereafter the electro-optical light modulation panel and the light-control device are driven, while a too bright image is generated by means of the electro-optical light modulation panel, which image is converted by means of the light-control device into an image having a desired brightness and a desired contrast.

Abstract: A light emission device having therein a light emission tube which is almost straight in shape and emits light in a radial manner and a reflection shade that reflects light emitted from the light emission tube toward an object, wherein the reflection shade has a reflection surface in which light emitted from the light emission tube in the direction opposite to the direction from the center of the light emission tube to an object and reflected on the reflection shade does not interfere with the light emission tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides the position detector (line sensors) for outputting the information concerning the position of each distance measuring point within a picture to be taken by a camera, the multi-point photometer (correlation computer and integral controller) for outputting the incident light luminance information of each distance measuring point and the priority determiner (selector) for determining the priority of the distance measuring point according to the information concerning the position and incident light information of each distance measuring point within a picture, and is capable of executing the integral control of all the distance measuring points within a picture, determining the priority of the distance measuring point according to the luminance distribution within the picture and executing the interpolation computation for only the distance measuring points within the predetermined range of distance.

Abstract: A focus detecting device having an auxiliary light mode, in which, when a focus is not appropriately first detected, a focus detecting operation for detecting the focus is executed with auxiliary light being projected. The focus detecting device includes a plurality of focus detecting areas, a detecting device for detecting a focus in each of the plurality of focus detecting areas, and a determination circuit for determining whether or not the focus detecting operation is to be executed in the auxiliary light mode based on the detected focus and a determination criterion, wherein the determination criterion is set to a predetermined value according to at least one of the plurality of focus detecting areas. Further, the focus detecting areas may be divided into groups each having at least two focus detecting areas, and the determination criterion can be set to a different predetermined value for each of the groups.

Abstract: A camera includes a lens barrel capable of extending and collapsing in which when the lens barrel is extended, exposures are possible. The camera includes an aperture member in which any one of a plurality of aperture values can be selected, an aperture set up handler varying a position based on the aperture value, and a coupling member for mechanically coupling the aperture member with the aperture set up handler to transmit the position of the aperture set up handler to the aperture member so that said aperture member is set up to an aperture value according to the position of the aperture set up handler. The aperture member returns to an original setting when the lens barrel is collapsed. The aperture set up handler returns to a position to set up the aperture member to the original setting in accordance with the collapse operation of the lens barrel.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is provided with a movable stop plate formed with small and middle stop apertures. The small stop aperture has a smaller diameter, and the middle stop aperture is larger than the small stop aperture. A fixed large stop aperture, which is larger than the middle stop aperture, is disposed behind the movable stop plate. The movable stop plate is moved to position the small stop aperture at a photographic optical axis when subject brightness is a predetermined reference value or more. Similarly, the middle stop aperture is positioned at the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and a flash switch is turned off. Further, the fixed large stop aperture is set to the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and the flash switch is turned on.

Abstract: A technique that allows the shared use of a zoom lens barrel in a camera having plural zoom specifications with low cost, the camera having an optical zoom system with a variable focal length from the wide-angle end to telephoto end by moving the zoom lens barrel from the wide-angle end to telephoto end. The camera has a zoom lens barrel for changing the focal length of a photographic optical system, a zooming part for driving the zoom lens barrel, a pulse generator part for generating pulse signals according to the movement of the zoom lens barrel, a counter part for increasing or decreasing the pulse number of the pulse signals according to the moving direction of the zoom lens barrel, a position detection part for detecting that the zoom lens barrel is at plural certain positions, and a control part for controlling the zooming part to prevent the zoom lens barrel from moving beyond the zoom limit.