Abstract: The present invention provides a lens driving device, such as an automatic focusing device, which is arranged to detect a difference (the amount of overrun) between a given target amount of driving of a lens and an amount in which the lens is actually driven in a lens driving cycle, correct the next target amount of driving of the lens according to data formed by the accumulation of difference information on the detected difference, and drive the lens by the target amount corrected in this manner, thereby effecting lens driving which takes the past amount of overrun into account.

Abstract: A low cost, compact multi-light through-the-lens adjustment unit for use in a camera which incorporates a built-in flash allowing an increase in the speed of a shutter release operation of the camera. A charged voltage of a charge accumulation unit is measured prior to a light pre-emission. The light pre-emission is initiated and thereafter terminated based on a quantity of reflected light detected. The time difference between the initiation of the light pre-emission and the termination of the light pre-emission is measured by a time difference measurement unit. The amount of light pre-emission light of the light emission unit is calculated based on the measured charged voltage and the time difference measurement. Alternatively, the charged voltage prior to light pre-emission is measured by a first voltage measurement unit and the charging voltage after light pre-emission is measured by a second voltage measurement unit.

Abstract: An autofocus adjustment device capable of computing the confidence level of focus detection accurately is disclosed. The autofocus adjustment device includes a focus detection device to determine focus detection results of the phototaking lens and a confidence value calculation device to calculate a confidence value to determine whether the results of said focus detection means have a sufficient level of confidence. The confidence value calculation device includes a plurality of confidence value calculation units with each calculation unit executing a different calculation process.

Abstract: A wireless flash photographing system prohibits flash light reception for a predetermined time period when it is determined that received flash light is not an identification signal. Light emission for pre-confirming a shade and main light emission are switched by the identification signal. A flash device applied to this system comprises a power supply circuit section, a light emission section, a control section and a light receiving circuit section. The light emission section comprises a series circuit including a main capacitor, a discharge tube, a diode and an IGBT, a voltage doubler circuit including resistors and a capacitor, and a trigger circuit including a trigger transformer and a trigger capacitor. The light emission section controls the IGBT to start/stop light emission.

Abstract: A defocus amount is accurately determined within the photo field. As applied to a focus state detection device, DC reduction filter process data is computed without completely extracting the DC component of the signal string output from an image sensor. The DC reduction filter process data is divided into three regions, and a determination is made as to whether focus state detection is possible for each region. When the determination is negative, a determination is made as to whether focus state detection is possible for all regions of first filter process data that extracts high frequency components. When the determination is negative, a determination is made in a similar manner as to whether focus state detection is possible on the basis of second filter process data and third filter process data.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film (31). An exposure is taken through an exposure opening (43) upon depression of a shutter button (14) to a full depressed position. A halfway position of the shutter button is less deep than the full depressed position. A power source switch (44) is switched on upon movement of the shutter button to the halfway position. A photometric circuit (50, 60) receives light of an object, and for generating a changeover signal when brightness of the object is a predetermined brightness or more. The photometric circuit is rendered effective when the power switch is switched on. A changeover plate (46a) has a stop-down opening (46b) which is formed therein, and has a size smaller than the exposure opening. The changeover plate is movable between an inserted position and a retracted position. The stop-down opening of the inserted position is superposed on the exposure opening to intercept a periphery of the exposure opening.

Abstract: A camera, which detects and compensates for vibrations affecting the camera, has improved positioning of vibration detection sensors. The camera includes a camera body having an outer cover and a lens barrel. The lens barrel has a substantially cylindrical outer portion and is positioned on the camera body to divide the camera body into a first portion and a second portion with the lens barrel therebetween. A rangefinding unit is positioned in the camera body and is covered by the outer cover of the camera body. The rangefinding unit has a surface which has a portion opposing the circumference of the outer portion of the lens barrel. A first space exists in the first portion of the camera body and has borders defined by the circumference of the outer portion of the lens barrel, the surface of the rangefinding unit and the outer cover of the camera body. A flash generation device is positioned in the second portion of the camera body and a vibration detection sensor positioned in the first space.

Abstract: A video camera (14) is loaded with a battery pack (11, 90) charged by an AC charger (15). The battery pack has a first pair of terminals (25, 26) for supplying electric power externally, and an outer wall (16). The AC charger has a second pair of terminals (53, 54), which are connectable to the first pair of terminals, and supply electric power externally. A receiving wall (21) is fitted on the outer wall. A detecting claw (66) is disposed to project from an inside to an outside of the receiving wall. The detecting claw is pressed by the outer wall and moved from the projected state to the retracted state. A terminal cover (60) is disposed on the receiving wall in a position covering the second pair of terminals and in movable fashion between the covering position and an uncovering position of uncovering the second pair of terminals. The terminal cover is pressed by the battery pack and moved from the covering position to an uncovering position.

Abstract: An accumulation-type light receiving element photoelectrically converts light from the subject field and outputs an electric signal on the basis of the brightness. An accumulation time setting component sets the accumulation time of the light receiving element and an accumulation operation component carries out accumulation in the light receiving element on the basis of the information from the accumulation time setting component. A photometric value input component inputs the photometry output from the light receiving element. A brightness value calculating component calculates the brightness value of the subject field on the basis of the outputs of the accumulation time setting component and the photometric value input component and further corrects the accumulation time of the light receiving element that has been input from the accumulation time setting component.

Abstract: A camera includes a memory, a display component, a selector, a controller and a shutter assembly. The memory stores a plurality of preset parameters used to control the camera during a photographic operation. The display component is coupled to the memory and displays a selection of parameters from the stored parameters. The selector is coupled to the display and allows a user to select at least one of the displayed parameters for the photographic operation. The controller is coupled to the memory, the display component and the selector. The controller controls the photographic operation based on either a parameter selected from a display when the selector is operated or a parameter automatically selected by the controller when the selector is not operated. The shutter assembly is coupled to the controller and executes the photographic operation based on the selected parameter.

Abstract: A camera includes an autofocus adjustment device. The autofocus device comprises a lens and camera body. The lens is comprised of a shooting lens, a lens information circuit, and a lens movement mechanism. The camera body has a main mirror, a submirror, an AF module, a sensor drive circuit, a controller, a lens drive control circuit, and motor. The autofocus adjustment device uses image plane movement velocity for the determination of a moving object and uses focus position change velocity in lens drive control.

Abstract: A system is provided for treating sound represented by the varying width of a motion picture film soundtrack, which provides a "flat" frequency response up to 12.5 kHz with maximum phase coherence, even though the film speed is only 62% to 78% of the present speed of 90 feet per minute. The projector photocell which detects a slit-shaped area of light passing through the soundtrack, produces an output that is amplified so the amplification is progressively greater at higher frequencies, with the gain at 12.5 kHz being at least 6 dB greater than at 1 kHz. A photocell is selected whose output at 12.5 kHz is within 1 dB of its output at 1 kHz for light of a wavelength of substantially 1000 nanometers.

Abstract: A camera is provided that is equipped with a lamp lighting controlling device that does not require a complicated circuit structure and that does not shorten the life of batteries and lamps. The camera is equipped with a lamp lighting controlling device that lights a lamp before the shutter release operation in order to alleviate red eye. The camera includes an electrical current controlling device that carries out a pulse electrical current control to repeatedly connect and disconnect the electrical current to the lamp and a clocking device that clocks a first time interval before the shutter release operation commences and a second time interval that immediately follows the first time interval. The electrical current controlling device lights the lamp with the largest stationary duty value during the second time interval and lights the lamp with an initial duty value during the first time interval. The initial duty value is smaller than the stationary duty value.

Abstract: A camera with a visual line position detection device capable of highly accurate determinations even when diopter adjustment is accomplished after initial completion of correction of the visual line position determining system. The camera includes a screen to form a subject image, a pentagonal prism provided inside the finder, a visual line position detection device equipped with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to detect the visual line position, and a diopter adjustment lens placed on the photographer's side of the pentagonal prism. The diopter adjustment lens is displaced after the correction of the visual line position detection device, and a correction coefficient needed to compute the visual line position on the screen obtained during the correction of the visual line position detection device is changed according to the displacement amount of the diopter adjustment lens.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus for a camera comprises a light projecting device for projecting light to an object to be photographed, a light receiving circuit for receiving light projected by the light projecting device and reflected by the object to be photographed and for converting the reflected light into first and second output signals, a first selecting device for selecting the first output signal, and a second selecting device for selecting one of the first and second output signals. A first signal processing circuit is connected to the first selecting device for processing the output signal selected by the first selecting device. A second signal processing circuit is connected to the second selecting device for processing the output signal selected by the second selecting device.

Abstract: A camera system including a camera which performs data communication with external equipment. The external equipment is connected to a communication terminal in the camera via a connector, such as a cable. The camera and the external equipment initially perform communication at a predetermined initial communication speed via the communication terminal and cable. The camera system includes a device to transmit a communication speed change command to the camera at the initial value of communication speed, and a device to change the initial value of communication speed to a high speed based upon the received communication speed change command. The camera system further includes a device to restore the communication speed to the original initial value of communication speed by generating a communication end command which is transmitted to the camera during communication with the external equipment.

Abstract: A light metering device incorporates a light dependent resistor as a light sensing element, a network including a plurality of circuit elements, and a selection mechanism for selectively connecting the light dependent resistor to one of the plurality of circuit elements in the network. The selection mechanism is controlled to set a voltage measured at an output terminal of the light dependent resistor within a predetermined threshold level. The light metering device can be readily incorporated in both photographic and electronic cameras.

Abstract: A camera device for a photographer viewing a scene to be photographed includes an illumination source for illuminating the scene and means for linearly scanning the scene with said illumination source to provide a visible linear indication of a scanned region of the scene. Control means vary the brightness of the illumination in accordance with changes in one or more scene parameters, to ensure constant visibility of the linear indication.

Abstract: The reversing film projection system employs film having images printed substantially side-by-side to allow presentation of one set of images in a forward direction and the adjacent images in rearward direction by moving the projection head and associated aperture plate and film guide laterally with respect to the lens and lamp house for display of the film images. In a first forward drive position, the projector motor drives the film in a forward direction with a first aperture of the aperture plate and associated first set of film images aligned with the optical train. Upon completion of the image presentation in the forward direction, the projection head is displaced laterally aligning a second aperture in the aperture plate and the associated second set of film images with the optical train, with the projection motor engaged in a reversed direction.

Abstract: A photo film cassette has a spool (15). With photo film (14) wound, the spool is contained in a cassette shell (13, 71) in rotatable fashion. Rotation of the spool causes the photo film to advance to an outside of the cassette shell. A tongue (56, 72) is formed by cutting a slit (62) having a shape of a cornered line in a wall of the cassette shell (13, 71). The tongue, when folded, signals a developed status of the photo film. A groove (61a) is formed in the tongue, is extended across the tongue, and renders the tongue flexible. A support (58, 71a) is disposed on an inside of a wall of the cassette shell and across the slit, is contacted on an inside of the tongue, and prevents the tongue from being bent toward an inside of the cassette shell while the tongue is pressed with force below a predetermined range.