Abstract: In a method for sharpening a probe, a probe preform having a longitudinal axis is at least partially immersed in a mixture containing at least an etch solution and a non-etch solution having a lower specific gravity than and which is not miscible with the etch solution. The probe preform is moved in the mixture along the longitudinal axis thereof during etching at a speed which does not exceed a taper length forming speed for a probe preform which is not moved in the etch solution during etching. An end of the probe preform is etched into a sharp tapered tip having a taper angle greater than that obtained for the probe preform which is not moved during etching.

Abstract: The display of the state of use of film provided on a film cartridge is prevented from becoming a wrong display during the insertion of the film cartridge into a camera or during the removal of the film cartridge from the camera. Rotation restraint releasing means 20 are provided for bearing against rotation restraining means only while a supply spool 2 is engaged by the fork member 13 of the camera, and releasing the rotation restraint of the supply spool by the rotation restraining means, and this rotation restraint is released only in a state in which the supply spool is engaged by the fork member of the camera and the supply spool is not inadvertently rotated.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus which accumulates charges, generated in a sensor array having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, in a plurality of accumulation units, and integrates the charges using transfer units having a less number of transfer sections than the number of accumulation units. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are grouped into a plurality of groups, a part of the groups is selected, and charges generated by photoelectric conversion elements which belong to the selected group or groups are integrated using the transfer unit.

Abstract: A laser oscillator which is capable of preventing damage caused by light reflected from a workpiece and a decrease in productivity resulting therefrom. Between a rear mirror and an output mirror within the laser oscillator is arranged a bending mirror. The bending mirror has a coating formed on the surface thereof, which reflects S-polarized light sufficiently but has a low reflectance with respect to P-polarized light. A laser beam is amplified between the rear mirror and the output mirror, and emitted through the output mirror. The laser beam output at this time is formed by S-polarized light. The S-polarized light is converted to a circularly polarized light by a zero-shifting mirror and a quarter wavelength mirror. The laser beam converted to the circularly-polarized light turns in a perpendicular direction at a mirror and is converged onto a workpiece by a condenser lens.

Abstract: Disclosed is a distance measuring apparatus for measuring the distance to an object on the basis of reflected light obtained as a result of projecting light onto an object, in which different reliability or contrast discrimination values are set in active and passive distance measurements. When the distance to the object is calculated by performing a correlation calculation on the basis of two received-light images obtained by an active or passive distance measurement, the reliability of the calculated distance and contrast values of the two received-light images are discriminated using the discrimination value.

Abstract: Light projected by a light projecting portion and reflected by an object is received by two sensor arrays (105, 106). Difference signals between signals respectively added by ring CCDs (113b, 114b) in correspondence with the ON and OFF states of the light projecting portion are calculated, and the distance to the object to be measured is calculated on the basis of the relative values of the positions of the difference signals on the sensor arrays (105, 106). The two sensor arrays (105, 106) form the base length, and the light projecting portion (104) is disposed at a position offset from the base length.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide a distance measurement apparatus which can relatively easily control the clock generation timing and can prevent dark currents generated by accumulation units from being unbalanced between the ON and OFF states of a light-projection operation even when the accumulation apparatus for temporarily holding charges are arranged between a sensor array and a charge transfer apparatus.

Abstract: Magnetic reproduction apparatus for a camera is capable of preventing any signals from being output as correctly reproduced signals if there is any error in reading out the magnetic record or of outputting correctly reproduced signals at all times even if there is any error in reading out the magnetic record.

Abstract: An external optical system is simplified in construction so that a laser oscillation apparatus is low-priced and compact as a whole. On the side of one end portion (10A) of a return-type resonator (10), a laser beam is reflected by a polarizing mirror (147) to be incident upon a polarizing mirror (146) which is situated diagonally below the mirror (147), and is also reflected by a polarizing mirror (142) to be incident upon a polarizing mirror (141) which is situated diagonally above the mirror (142). Thus, at the one end portion (10A), the polarizing mirror (141) and the like are arranged so that optical axes cross each other. Since the emitted laser beam forms a linear polarized beam inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to a horizontal plane, as indicated by arrow (100), the laser beam can be subjected to circular polarization by using only one 1/4-wavelength mirror. Thus, the construction of the external optical system can be simplified.

Abstract: This invention relates to a camera for reading out and/or reading information from a magnetic recording portion provided to a film using a magnetic head.This invention provides a camera, wherein the film feed speed until the film passes the head position is set to be lower than a predetermined speed, so that the film can be prevented from colliding against the head portion with a shock.

Abstract: In a camera, whether a film has been partially exposed or not is checked, and if the check fails, a use status on a film cartridge is rotated to an optimum position such as a position indicating an exposed status. Thus, double exposure of the film is prevented.

Abstract: A laser resonator (8) has discharge tubes (15) arranged in parallel with each other and bending mirrors (18a, 18b) facing each other at an angle of 90 degrees made therebetween, an output mirror (17) is arranged at a starting end of one discharge tube (15), and a rear mirror (19) is arranged at a terminal end of the other discharge tube (15). Additional reflecting mirrors (M.sub.1 ', M.sub.2 ') are arranged so as to cause a laser beam to make a U-turn on a plane inclined at 22.5 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, whereby the laser beam emitted from the output mirror (17) of the laser resonator (8) and polarized in a direction inclined at 90 degrees to the horizontal plane is successively reflected at the two additional reflecting mirrors (M.sub.1 ', M.sub.2 ') and thus is converted into a laser beam L.sub.45 polarized in a direction inclined at 45 degrees to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A print control apparatus in a camera includes a camera provided with setting means for setting multiple printing information and recording means for recording the multiple printing information set by the setting means, or a printing apparatus provided with reading means for reading the multiple printing information recorded by the recording means and control means for effecting multiple printing in conformity with the multiple printing information read by the reading means.

Abstract: A camera utilizes a push-out type film cartridge which is so constructed that the revolution of a feed spool equipped therein feeds out the film. The camera comprises a film feeding means capable of blank feeding the film by driving said feed spool, and a control means capable of having said film feed means rewinding the film and blank feeding the film again in case the blank feeding of said film feeding means failed.

Abstract: A camera using a film with a magnetic storage section comprises a feed unit for feeding the film, a working unit for writing or reading data to or from the magnetic storage section of the film during feeding of the film by the feed unit, and a control unit for controlling, the working unit after the feed speed of the film being fed by the feed unit has become stable.

Abstract: A magnetic reproduction device for a camera includes a magnetic head to read information recorded by a self-clocked method on a magnetic recording portion of film. Data edges and clock edges read from a magnetic head are detected and a detector sets up data on the basis of the time interval between the detected clock and data edges and outputs the data. Clock edge detection errors are discriminated on the basis of detected clock edges and data edges.

Abstract: A camera which can be loaded with a cartridge for a recording medium with a recording portion is disclosed. The camera includes a processing circuit for reproducing at least recording data recorded in the recording portion. The camera further includes a detecting unit that detects a state of use of the recording medium independently from the data reproduced by the processing circuit. A control circuit is also provided. When the processing circuit cannot perform reproduction of the recording data, the control circuit restricts an operation of the camera on the basis of the state of use of the recording medium detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An inverter device receives a D.C. power source as an input and performs a switching operation at a single frequency in response to a preset driving signal (Vg1, Vg2, Vg3, Vg4) to produce an A.C. voltage. A transmission transformer (CH) having two coils which have the same inductance and are magnetically closely coupled with each other is provided and the two coils (CH1, CH2) are connected with the same polarities to respective ones of one set of lines for transmitting the A.C. voltage. The impedance of the transmission transformer (CH) is so small that it is negligible with respect to a normal A.C. voltage of a positive phase mode. A harmonic voltage is in an in-phase mode and the transmission transformer (CH) exhibits an extremely high impedance with respect to the harmonic voltage, and thus prevents the creation of a current path. As a result, the waveform distortion of a voltage applied between the drain and source of MOS transistors (FET1, FET2, FET3, FET4) is reduced and the peak value is reduced.

Abstract: A laser oscillator which is capable of providing a circularly polarized laser beam by an external optical system having a brief configuration. A folding section of a folded-type resonator (10) comprises reflecting mirrors (4a), (4b) and (4c). The reflecting mirror (4a) is inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to an optical axis of an excitation section (3a), and the reflecting mirror (4c) is inclined at an angle of 45.degree. to an optical axis of an excitation section (3b). The reflecting mirror (4b) is horizontally arranged so that the center of the mirror is positioned at the vertex of an isosceles right triangle with respect to the reflecting mirrors (4a) and (4c). Thus, an S polarized-light component of a laser beam from the excitation section (3b) is reflected by the reflecting mirror (4c) toward the reflecting mirror (4b).

Abstract: A data recording camera system includes first recording means for recording time data either on a photographic photosensitive means such as a film or on a matter that is ancillary to the film or the like, such as a film containing cartridge; second recording means for recording information on the format of printing the time data or area data in addition to the time data; and printing means for recording, on a print, time data formed on the basis of the data and information obtained from the first and second recording means.