Abstract: The present invention provides a capacitive liquid state sensor configured to release a pressure in an intervening gap by providing slits to an outer tubular electrode while inhibiting decrease in strength caused by forming of the slits. The outer tubular electrode 20 disposed with a predetermined distance from an inner electrode 20 is formed with a plurality of slits 14, 15 and 16 along a generator (indicated by one-dot chain line A) extending from a front end portion 11 to a rear end portion 12. Between the slits 14, 15 and 16 are positioned intermediate no-slit formed areas 17 and 18. Circulation of liquid between the inside and the outside of the outer tubular electrode 10 and in the axial direction of the same electrode 10 is attained through the slits 14, 15 and 16, so that a pressure accompanied by volumetric expansion of liquid at the time of freezing and existing in the intervening space can be released to the outside.

Abstract: An objective lens driver includes: a lens holder, for holding an objective lens; a first focusing coil, for moving one end of the lens holder in the focusing direction; a second focusing coil, for moving the other end of the lens holder in the focusing direction; a tracking coil assembly, for moving the lens holder in the tracking direction; and flexible members, which includes a first flexible member pair, for feeding a current to the first focusing foil, a second flexible member pair, for feeding a current to the second focusing coil, and a third flexible member pair, for feeding a current to the tracking coil assembly, wherein the lens holder is flexibly supported at a driver main body by the flexible members, and wherein the flexible members are arranged in a plurality of columns on both ends of the lens holder.

Abstract: A system controller of a digital still camera turns off power supply of an LCD regardless of on/off position of an LCD switch, when the camera is connected to a personal computer and, hence, an LCD is unnecessary. Therefore, wasteful power consumption can be reduced, and the camera can be driven for a long period of time even by a battery or cell.

Abstract: A digital still camera has an image memory for storing a plurality of image groups. Each image group includes nine normal images and a reduced image obtained by thinning pixels of each normal image for reduction to 1/9. When a mode pattern is pressed to indicate forward/backward screen-feeding in a nine-screen multi-reproduction mode, a control circuit feeds forwards or backwards nine reduced images displayed on a liquid crystal screen for each group at one time. Images can thus be retrieved more rapidly than in conventional examples which require operating a forward/backward screen-feed button nine times to feed nine reduced images forwards or backwards.

Abstract: A digital still camera has an image memory storing a plurality of image groups. Each image group includes nine normal images and a reduced image obtained by thinning pixels of each normal image for reduction to 1/9. When a mode pattern is pressed to indicate forward/backward screen-feeding in a nine-screen multi-reproduction mode, a control circuit feeds forwards or backwards nine reduced images displayed on a liquid crystal screen for each group at one time. Images can thus be retrieved more rapidly than in conventional examples which require operating a forward/backward screen-feed button nine times to feed nine reduced images forwards or backwards.

Abstract: An electronic image recording apparatus is a digital still camera, for example. If a camera mode is set by using a mode selecting button, an image signal from an imager is compressed and recorded into a flash memory. Then, if a sound button is depressed, during a constant time period, a sound signal to the image data is compressed and written into the memory. At this time, an address of an area in which the sound data is recorded is written in an image data area. If a continuous reproducing mode is set by the mode selecting button, a CPU reads first image data from the memory, and expands the image data and writes into a VRAM. Therefore, the first image data is displayed on an attached liquid crystal monitor. The CPU determines whether or not the recording address of the sound data is written in the image data area. When the address is recorded, a first sound data is read from the memory according to the address, and the first sound data is expanded and outputted on a speaker and etc.

Abstract: An improved piezoelectric sensor for detecting pressure, vibration, acceleration or the like physical quantity is disclosed. The pressure sensor to be attached to a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine includes a main body adapted to be attached to the cylinder and defining an axially extending hole therewithin, a diaphragm attached to one end of the main body for closing the hole; and a piezoelectric element disposed within the hole so that the pressure within the cylinder is transmitted to the piezoelectric element through the diaphragm. The piezoelectric element is a circular or polygonal disc with a thickness of 0.3-1.5 mm and is formed of a single crystal piezoelectric ceramic having a Curie temperature greater than 500.degree. C., such as LiNbO.sub.3.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor according to the present invention has battery element and a pump element in each of which porous electrodes are disposed on both faces of a solid electrolyte substrate. A minute current is supplied to the battery element after the start of energizing a heater and the activation of the sensor elements are judged on the basis of an interelectrode voltage generated at this energizing. A heater voltage is set to be 12V at the start of energizing. When the time period necessary for the interelectrode voltage to reach a predetermined voltage is short, the applied voltage is lowered to 11V. As a result, the time period necessary for judging the sensor elements to be activated can be made substantially constant irrespective of variations in sensor characteristics. After the activation judgment, the variation of the temperature of the sensor element is monitored on the basis of the interelectrode voltage.