Abstract: A photo subject station used to capture information regarding a subject suitable for integration into a personalized, printed product and method of using same with children so that a personal identification of a child need not be saved to deliver a customized product to the child when the child takes part of a session, for example, at a school. The station uses a stool, a color background device, preferably two digital cameras and lights located at fixed positions in the station and a computer. The computer creates and stores a subject file for each subject that contains photographs of the subject (e.g., three frontal and three profile photographs with three different facial expressions, plus a rear photograph), an image data file associated with the photographs (which contains x-y coordinates used for scaling the photographs), a data file containing an identification related to the subject and a bit map skin file (derived from one of the photographs for use in fixing personalized skin color).

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus including a loudspeaker, a photographic camera that photographs image information on a photographic subject, a proximity sensor, and a monitoring control unit is disposed at a first remote location. An autonomous operation controller including an autonomous operation control unit is disposed at a second remote location remote from the first remote location. Under remote control of this autonomous remote controller, the monitoring apparatus performs photographing of the image information on the photographic subject and acquires the image information.

Abstract: A camera balance device (1) having a cardanically suspendable pendulum arm (5) which is at least partially straight and whereon a camera fixing device (7) is provided on one side of the cardanic suspension (3) and a modifiable fixing device (15) for counterweights is provided on the other side of the cardanic suspension (3). At least two independently movable fixing devices (17, 19) are provided.

Abstract: A universal through sight camera system for army tactical vehicles is provided, which includes a universal through sight camera housing that mounts to the Army's M1 ABRAMS tank GUNNER's primary sight extension (GPS-e) by way of clamping onto the outer black anodized eyepiece ring of the GPS-e; a remote head CCD camera easily removable from the camera housing; and three optics adapter rings for adapting the universal through sight camera and housing to other gun's sights. These adapter rings include the M1 GUNNER's auxiliary sight adapter ring; the M2 COMMANDER's extension adapter ring and the M2 auxiliary sight adapter ring.

Abstract: A combination camera and a DSC lens control method using the same, including a lens position check unit for checking a position of a DSC lens if electric power is applied, and a switching unit for switching the DSC lens to a closed state if the lens position check unit decides that the DSC lens is open. Thus, if the power is applied in the DVC mode after the combination camera is turned off when the DSC lens has been open, the combination camera can efficiently switch the DSC lens to the closed state to thereby eliminate a user's inconvenience of using the DVC picture-taking mode during the open state of the DSC lens, or the inconvenience of switching the mode to the DSC image-capturing mode to close the DSC lens and then switching the mode to the DVC picture-capturing mode for use.

Abstract: A rotational driving apparatus with a motor, a worm pressingly fitted to an output shaft of the motor, and a worm wheel meshing with the worm, is provided to output rotation of the motor from the worm wheel via the worm. The apparatus includes support, pressing, plug, and urging members. The support member is placed forming a gap with respect to a tip end of the worm, and includes a through hole positioned on a same axis as the worm. The pressing member is inserted into the through hole, and protrudes from a tip end of the through hole to butt against a tip end face of the worm. The plug member is fitted into the through hole to close the through hole, in which its fitting degree into the through hole is adjustable. The urging member is interposed between the pressing member and the plug member to urge the pressing member toward the worm.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of cameras and a waterproof housing. The plurality of cameras include a first camera including a first operating member, a second camera including a second operating member which is superposed to the position of the first operating member in the waterproof housing upon storing the second camera in the waterproof housing. The waterproof housing can store whichever one of the first camera and the second camera. The waterproof housing includes a third operating member and a fourth operating member. The third operating member operates the first operating member upon storing the first camera in the waterproof housing, and the fourth operating member operates the second operating member upon storing the second camera.

Abstract: A sector drive mechanism includes an electromagnetic actuator including a rotor having four polarities, a C-shaped stator, and a current control portion that controls current applied to a first coil and a second coil, the C-shaped stator including a first magnetic pole magnetically excited by the first coil, a second magnetic pole magnetically excited by the second coil, and a third magnetic pole magnetically excited by the first coil and the second coil, and sectors that are connected to the electromagnetic actuator to open and close a shutter opening provided in a substrate. The first coil and the second coil are driven to close the shutter opening with a fewer number of pulses applied from the current control portion than the number of the pulses to open the shutter opening.

Abstract: In a lens system in which a momentary mode in which AF is operated when an AF switch SW2 is pressed and a continuous mode in which the AF is continuously operated can be selected, a CPU uses the AF switch SW2 for use in the momentary mode as an AF stop switch, and stops an AF process when the AF switch SW2 is pressed (turned on) in the continuous mode.

Abstract: An aircraft fuselage element (26) with a fuselage body (30) which forms an internal cavity (40) and which includes a viewing window (32, 34). To provide for taking substantially distortion-free high-resolution pictures in the infrared wavelength range and from a large angular range the fuselage body (30) is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation (36).

Abstract: A lens barrel including a base and a collapsible barrel provided so as to collapse into and expand out of the base, the barrel including a lens constituting an image-capturing optical system for introducing an image of an object, a lens frame for holding the lens, and an operational unit provided in the lens frame for performing an operation relating to image capture based on a control signal supplied thereto, the lens barrel including a flexible substrate provided within the lens barrel for supplying the control signal from an electric circuit provided outside the barrel to the operational unit; wherein the flexible substrate has a first interconnect section to which the control signal is supplied; and a second interconnect section provided separately from the first interconnect section and having an end connected onto the lens frame and another end electrically connected to a ground potential.

Abstract: A surveillance camera assembly includes a dome window having a substantially cylindrical section with an inner surface and a first annular end. A substantially hemispherical section has a concave surface and a second annular end. The second annular end is joined to the first annular end of the substantially cylindrical section. The concave surface and the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical section conjointly define a cavity. Both the substantially cylindrical section and the substantially hemispherical section are substantially transparent when viewing outwardly from a position within the cavity. A surveillance camera is received in the cavity of the dome window and swivels relative to the dome window.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a ranging device for measuring a distance to a subject, a device for radiating fill-light to the subject, and a re-ranging determining device for determining as to whether re-measurement is executed based on a measured result of the ranging device, when the re-ranging determining device determines that the re-measurement by the ranging device is required, the fill-light radiating device radiating the fill light to the subject based on the determination of the re-ranging determining device, the ranging device having a ranging element mechanism for allowing a light flux from the subject to image thereon to measure the distance to the subject, a ranging arithmetical mechanism for achieving an arithmetic of the ranging based on outputting data of the ranging element mechanism, and an area selecting mechanism for selecting an area based on an arithmetical result of the ranging arithmetical mechanism.

Abstract: A photography system includes a digital camera and a remote control whose location can be detected by the camera. The remote control includes a control for causing the camera to take a photograph. The camera selects a region to photograph from its field of view, based on the location of the remote control. The selected region may include the entire field of view of the camera or a portion thereof. The camera may optionally select a region that places the remote control in the center of the region. The photographer may optionally specify the size of the region to be selected. The camera may optionally adjust the size of the selected region to assist in photographic composition. The camera may optionally be capable of making video recordings.

Abstract: In a photographic processing method, an image unit having a plurality of printable image frames is received. The image frames include a data frame having subchannel information. An indicator of the presence of the subchannel information is detected. A bitstream of all of the image frames is generated. Responsive to the indicator, the data frame is extracted from the bitstream and subchannel information is read from the data frame. Fulfillment of image frames of the bitstream is provided in accordance with the subchannel information. If no indicator is detected, then the image frames are fulfilled in accordance with a different, default subchannel.

Abstract: An illumination optical system is disclosed, which leads a luminous flux forward effectively, which emitted backward from a light source. The illumination optical system comprises a light source, and a first optical member arranged on an opposite side of a light irradiation side with respect to the light source. The first optical member includes a refractive surface through which light from the light source is transmitted and a reflective surface which reflects the light from the refractive surface toward the light irradiation side.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a reflecting surface for reflecting light, formed on a circuit board;—an LED light source for emitting illumination light with a light-emitting diode, mounted on a part of the reflecting surface; and a reflector for reflecting ahead the light emitted from the LED light source, mounted on the circuit board so as to surround the LED light source and have the opened rear thereof closed by the reflecting surface.

Abstract: High Dynamic Range (HDR) spherical images can be obtained without a requirement for special purpose cameras having linear optical sensors. Various examples of the present invention can use a standard single lens reflex (SLR) camera with a fisheye lens to obtain spherical images. The camera is positioned to obtain a plurality of images at different exposures with the camera facing up and again with the camera facing down. The images may then be processed to obtain an HDR spherical image. A center post of a tripod, an offset arm and a rotational mount may be used to position the camera. The offset arm and rotational mount can enable the camera to be oriented straight up or straight down along an optical axis separated from the center post of the tripod.

Abstract: A camera lens attachment (5) having an attaching member (90), additional lens (49), a lens cover (10) doubling as a sunshade, and additional shading components (12) all in an integral combination which is easily attachable or removable from a camera.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cardanic suspension device (3) for a camera balance device (1), comprising two intersecting joint axes (G1, G2); one of said axes extending vertically (G2) (in a perpendicular manner) and the other (G1) extending horizontally, in addition to an axis of rotation (D) extending through the vertical joint axis (G2) and lying perpendicular to the horizontal joint axis (G1). A joint output fixing element (27) can be rotated around the vertical joint axis (G2) and is used to fix the cardanic suspension device (3) on the camera balance device (1). A joint input fixing element (25) can rotate around the axis of rotation (D) and is used to fix the cardanic suspension (3) to a support. A centering device (43) is provided between the joint input fixing element (25) and the joint output element (27), enabling the vertical joint axis (G2) and the axis of rotation (D) to move in relation to each other.