Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup device of this invention, in order to satisfactorily detect optical signals over a wide spectrum range from a visible light range to an invisible light range, a photoelectric conversion element for converting an optical signal in the invisible light range into an electrical signal, and photoelectric conversion elements for converting an optical signal in the visible light range into an electrical signal are formed on a common semiconductor chip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high accuracy angular position transducer of simple constuction. The angular position transducer consists of a stator core in slots of which both exciting windings with p .sub.1 pole pairs and output windings with p .sub.2 pole pairs are wound, and a rotor core which carries no windings and has salient poles whose number is an integer N satisfying one of the following relations, p.sub.1 +p.sub.2 =N, or p.sub.1 -p.sub.2 =.+-.N. In this construction the angular position is detected by using the following voltages induced in output windings: two or three phase voltages having a sinusoidal waveform of one cycle per rotation of 1/N of the circumference, in the combination of single phase exciting windings and two or three phase output windings; single phase voltage having a sinusoidal waveform whose phase shifts by 2.sub..pi. per rotation of 1/N of the circumference, in the combination of two phase exciting windings and single phase output windings.

Abstract: An insulated gate type transistor includes a plurality of major electrode regions, a channel region provided between the plurality of major electrode regions, a gate electrode provided on the channel region with a gate insulating film therebetween, and a semiconductor region provided in contact with the channel region, the semiconductor region having the same conductivity type as that of the channel region and a higher impurity concentration than the channel region. The gate electrode has at least two opposing portions. The plurality of major electrode regions are provided on an substrate insulating film. The transistor is activated in a state where the semiconductor region is maintained at a predetermined voltage. A semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells, each of which includes the aforementioned insulated gate type transistor and an electrically breakable memory element provided on one of the major electrode regions.

Abstract: Inexpensive, maintenance-free and high efficiency reluctance motors and generators have a construction that makes it possible to decrease pulsating torque and additional harmonic core loses. Each salient pole of the rotor core of the reluctance motor and generator has a shape such that the gap permeance varies in proportion to cos (N.theta..sub.2), where .theta..sub.2 represents an angular position with respect to the origin set to the center of a salient pole, or a shape analogous to the shape. In order to make up for a reduction of reluctance torque due to the shape, slits are provided inside the rotor core which cause a large reluctance for the quadrature-axis flux without interfering with the direct-axis flux.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: an insulated gate transistor having a plurality of main electrode regions provided along a major surface of a substrate and a channel region provided between the plurality of main electrode regions, and a gate electrode provided on the channel region with a gate insulator therebetween, the gate electrode having at least two opposing portions; and an electrically breakable memory element provided on one of the main electrode regions.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device includes light-receiving circuitry having a plurality of light-receiving cells arranged in a matrix. Apparatus is provided for reading and storing electrical signals output by the light-receiving circuitry, and includes (1) a first memory for reading bright signals out of the light-receiving cells arranged in a row for storing the bright signals for a horizontal scanning period, (2) a second memory for reading dark signals out of the light-receiving cells arranged in the row for storing the dark signal for the horizontal scanning period, and (3) a readout circuit for reading the bright and dark signals stored in the first and second memories simultaneously. A removing circuit is provided for removing fixed pattern noise by simultaneously processing the bright and dark current signals read out from the first and second memories. Preferably, this removing circuit comprises a differential amplifier.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus having a plurality of photoelectric converting elements which can accumulate the photoelectrically converted charges.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus for use with a light projection device which projects light to an object, and a storage sensor which alternately receives light reflected from the object when the light is projected onto the object and when the light is not projected onto the object includes an extraction circuit for extracting from the storage sensor (1) a first sensor output corresponding to when the light is projected onto the object, and (2) a second sensor output corresponding to when the light is not projected onto the object. A setting circuit is provided for setting the sensor in an initial state every time the extraction circuit extracts an output signal from the storage sensor. A control circuit is provided for calculating a difference between the first and second sensor signals and providing an output signal corresponding to the difference.

Abstract: In a photoelectric transducer apparatus having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements each having a capacitor electrode formed on a control electrode of a corresponding semiconductor transistor, the apparatus being adapted to sequentially select each element in units of lines, to control a potential of the control electrode of the selected photoelectric transducer element through the capacitor electrode, to store carriers in the control electrode region, and to read out a signal component corresponding to the amount of charge, the apparatus includes: optical information storing memory for storing optical information read out from the photoelectric transducer element; and dark voltage storing memory for storing a voltage corresponding to a dark voltage read out from the photoelectric transducer element, and actual optical information stored in the optical information storing memory and information corresponding to the dark voltage component stored in the dark voltage storing memory are simultaneously

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus is provided with an optical assembly having a plurality of components disposed near the predetermined imaging plane of an objective lens and performing the actions of different field lenses, a re-imaging lens unit for receiving a light beam from the optical assembly and forming light distributions whose relative position changes in conformity with the focus adjusted state of the objective lens, and a photoelectric converting device having a plurality of sensor arrangements for receiving the light distributions and converting the light distributions into electrical signals. Predetermined one of the sensor arrangements are adapted to receive the light beam from predetermined ones of the portions of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A focus detecting device switchable between an active and a passive mode has a passive mode in which light from an object is accumulated in a light accumulation type receiving portion without light from a light source being projected onto the object, and an active mode in which light from a light source is projected onto the object. The light accumulated in the accumulation type receiving portion is used to effect focus detection. An accumulating control circuit is provided for controlling the accumulation operation performed by the light receiving portion. A processing circuit is provided for performing the focus detection calculations on the basis of the accumulated output of the light receiving portion as controlled by the control circuit. A change-over circuit is provided for automatically changing between the passive and active modes on the basis of the accumulation state during the accumulating operation before the control of the accumulation operation by the control circuit is terminated.

Abstract: A focus detecting device of the type in which the amount of focus adjustment is found from the amount of image deviation between object images formed on first and second sensor arrays. The magnitude of the regularity of the image pattern or the magnitude of the brightness/darkness deviation rate or the shape similarity is discriminated and light projection means is operated when the regularity is great or when the brightness/darkness deviation rate or the shape similarity is small.

Abstract: A focus detection system for detecting a focus state of an object lens, includes an optical device for forming first and second light distributions corresponding to first and second images having light fluxes passing through the different parts of a pupila of the object lens. The positional relationship between the two light distributions varies in accordance with the focus state of the object lens. First and second sensors sense the first and second light distributions. A signal processor for processing output signals from the first and second sensors detect the focus state of the object lens in accordance with the positional relationships between the two light distributions. The signal processor processes the signals from the first and second sensors in accordance with a predetermined formula to obtain the positional relationship between the two images to determine a degree of coincidence of the two light distributions.

Abstract: A sensor device for cumulatively storing incident light in the form of electric charge is arranged to monitor the level of the cumulatively stored electric charge; to have one mode in which the storing action is allowed to continue until the electric charge level reaches a first, high given level if the electric charge level reaches a preset level within a given period of time; to have another mode in which the storing action is allowed to continue until the electric charge level reaches the preset level if the electric charge fails to reach the preset level within the given period of time; and to cause a signal obtained by the storing action to be read out after the end of the storing action with a degree of gain which is variable according to the mode in which the storing action is performed.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes:a first optical device for forming light distributions, associated with an object image, whose relative positional relationship chnages along a first direction in accordance with a focusing state of the objective lens;a second optical device for forming light distributions, associated with the object image, whose relative positional relationship changes along a second direction in accordance with the focusing state of the objective lens;a first sensing unit, having a plurality of photosensors, for forming an electrical signal associated with the focusing state of the objective lens in order to sense the light distributions formed by the first optical device; anda second sensing unit, having a plurality of photosensors, for forming an electrical signal associated with the focusing state of the objective lens in order to sense the light distribution formed by the second optical device.

Abstract: A photoelectric converting device having a plurality of line sensors, each line sensor having an output line and scanning means for scanning that line sensor. Selection circuit selectably directs a signal from one of the plural output lines to a common output terminal. A reset device resets the common output line to a predetermined level in response to the scanning of the line after the signal has been directed to the common output terminal. The readout may be conducted by scanning the plurality of line sensors by alternatively scanning photoelectric conversion cells from different line sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the focus state of an optical system has optical apparatus for forming first and second light distributions of an object. The relative positional relationship of the light distributions varies in accordance with the focus state of the optical system. A light receiving device has first and second ranges, each having a plurality of picture elements. The first and second ranges respectively receive the first and second light distributions. Operation circuitry manipulates the output signals from the first and second ranges by relatively mathematically moving them to calculate a value representing the focus state of the optical system. The operation circuitry selectively executes a first operation in which the number of signals corresponding to each other is varied, and a second operation in which the number of signals corresponding to each other is kept constant.

Abstract: A distance detection apparatus comprising: a distance detection unit for detecting information on a distance to an object, a controller for operating the detection means a plurality of times, and for processing a plurality of information on the distance and outputting an optimum distance information; a status detector for detecting a status of the object for outputting information on the status; and a circuit for altering an information processing method of the controller, in accordance with the output of the status detection means.

Abstract: First and second light distributions having their relative positional relation varying in conformity with the focus adjusted state of an objective optical system and based on an object are received by a plurality of picture elements, and the range of use of the picture element row can be changed when a value indicative of the focus adjusted state is calculated by the use of the signals from the picture elements.

Abstract: An automated assembly system comprising a pair of spaced supporting frames on which a corresponding pair of guide rails extend transversely in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a workpiece. Two movable arm units, each having tool heads movably mounted thereon, are supported on the spaced frames. A feed unit is mounted on each of the support frames for moving independently a corresponding one of the two movable arm units along the guide rails in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the workpiece.