Abstract: In a vibration motor, electrostrictive elements arranged or polarized phase-differentially are bonded to a plurality of concentric ring-shaped vibration members arranged on at least one of a stator and a rotor, voltages are applied to the electrostrictive elements to generate travelling vibration waves in the vibration members and the rotor contacting to the vibration members is friction-driven by the travelling vibration wave.

Abstract: A light measuring device for a camera which can change between light measuring ranges is achieved by dividing a transparent light condensing member into two or more portions of different optical characteristics and electrooptically actuating one or more light shading members for shading the object light passing through the light condensing member to a sensor.

Abstract: In a still-picture camera using a servo-like automatic focusing device, the automatic focusing device is locked and inhibited from operating when a shutter release is performed. The invented arrangement permits the use of a servo-like automatic focusing device for a still-picture camera without impairing operability. Furthermore, the invention permits selection of a servo-like automatic focusing function or a one-shot focusing function which is effected during a sequence of steps on an member such as a release operation member, so that the automatic focusing functions can be selected by utilizing the operability of the still-picture camera without impairing the operability thereof.

Abstract: In the camera disclosed, a display device adapted for displaying photographic information and a pattern, etc., with a liquid crystal within the camera view finder, a polarizing arrangement which creates a contrast between a portion of the display and another is combined with the liquid crystal. This produces a display with a high contrast portion and a low contrast portion.

Abstract: A camera includes a viewfinder with an indicator having two opposing substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal between them. One substrate includes a common electrode arrangement with a plurality of electrodes. The other substrate includes a segmented electrode arrangement with a number of electrodes facing the respective electrodes of the common electrode arrrangement. Short-circuit connectors connect predetermined electrodes in the segmented electrode arrangement. A first contactor has a number of conductors connected to the respective electrodes of the segmented electrode arrangement to deliver predetermined drive signals thereto. At least one of the short-circuiting connectors is arranged at the input portion of the first contactor. A second contactor with a number of conductors is connected to respective electrodes of the common electrode arrangement so as to deliver predetermined drive signals thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal cell having a plural number of electrode pairs arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal matter so as to be opposed to each other, being characterized in that a pulse wave generating device for generating the first pulse wave with smaller amplitude than the threshold valve for lighting the liquid crystal and the second pulse wave with larger amplitude than the threshold value for lighting the liquid crystal in reversed phase to each other and a gate device for selectively applying the outputs of the pulse wave generating device to each electrode of the liquid crystal cell in accordance with the input signal are provided. Thus only the voltage between the selecting electrodes is highter than the threshold value. An input change over device is provided so as to change over the input signal group in a time dividing way in such a manner that a plural number of dots can be displayed visually at the same time, as a result, the wiring is simplified.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device for a camera includes a display member having liquid crystal material for providing a display of photographic information, and a focusing glass for forming an image of an object which is to be photographed. A mask is arranged to face the display member and the focusing glass, the mask including a first transparent part which faces a display part of the display member, and a second transparent part which faces the object image formed on the focusing glass. A light shading part is provided between the first and second transparent parts of the mask to shade an end part of the display member from light. The mask enables view finder optics provided in the camera to display a rectangular view field having straight sides to the camera user.

Abstract: This invention relates to cameras capable of making exposures in shutter priority, or manual and program modes. Since in the program mode the shutter time and diaphragm aperture are unequivocally determined, the computed value of shutter time is liable to exceed a limit such that effects of shaking of the operator's hand become noticeable. The present invention solves this problem by making use of the shutter dial used for selection of the shutter priority or manual mode to set the limit value. When a longer shutter time than this limit is derived, the diaphragm aperture is readjusted in accordance with this limit of shutter time and the object brightness, while the shutter is adjusted to that limit value.

Abstract: A camera constructed from at least three different units or parts arranged in combination, with the units being releasably attached to each other by respective individual coupling devices which are made with a basically similar construction and which are operated to lock the individual camera parts together and to unlock the connection therebetween upon release actuation of the coupling devices.

Abstract: In the disclosed device, a signal forming circuit produces a signal having a frequency corresponding to the voltage of a power source. A level detector detects the level of the voltage of the power source and is arranged to produce a signal when the voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level. A control circuit coupled to the signal forming circuit is arranged to change the frequency of the signal produced by the signal forming circuit in response to the signal produced by the detector. An indicator operates at the frequency of the signal produced by the signal forming circuit. In a specific embodiment, a detector detects whether the voltage of a battery is at and below a first level, between the first level and a second higher level, and at and higher than the second level.

Abstract: In the disclosed indicator, a display responds to various photographic modes, i.e., shutter preference, program, etc. A control arrangement connected to the display changes the display in response to a control signal indicating that a selected shutter time is shorter or longer than a shutter time faster than hand vibrations.

Abstract: In a single lens reflex camera a focusing screen is removably attached with a focusing screen fitting member unitarily formed therewith for fitting the focusing screen in the camera body with a spring being provided therebetween to form a focusing screen unit. The focusing screen fitting member is provided with a clamp holder portion for engagement with an interchanging tool for use in attaching and detaching the focusing screen unit to and from the camera body, whereby the interchanging operation of the focusing screen may be performed with ease and safety.

Abstract: The present invention concerns with a so-called program-controlled camera where only one different combination of diaphragm aperture and shutter time value is determined based on a different object brightness. Particularly in the program-controlled camera where the object brightness is measured at the full open aperture and then combined with the preset value of film speed to derive a difference between the full open aperture and the effective diaphragm value, in accordance with which the shutter time is controlled while the diaphragm is adjusted to that effective value, a device is provided for carrying out a program shift in automatic response to the full open aperture value of the interchangeable lens used in the camera.

Abstract: A flash system including a computer type electronic flash unit and a camera. The computer type electronic flash unit includes an output terminal at which a signal representing the fully charged condition of an electrical energy storage capacitor is produced, a firing stop signal generating circuit and a signal supply circuit for supplying the output of the generating circuit to the output terminal. The camera includes an indicating device connected to the output terminal for indicating the firing stop signal transmitted from the output terminal. The camera also includes an override circuit for inhibiting the charge completion signal from being transmitted to the indicating means in response to a release operation of the camera.

Abstract: In the disclosed camera, an exposure value determining arrangement produces an electrical signal in response to a light measuring facility and a film sensitivity setting device. An exposure factor unit determines a combination of shutter speed and aperture value for a proper exposure in response to the exposure value determining arrangement. A control connected to the exposure factor unit varies the combination of exposure factors in the exposure factor unit in response to the set position of a program constant setting arrangement which is set for a particular program constant.

Abstract: A device for suppressing bounce of a pivotable mirror in a single lens reflex camera including a suppression member which may be pivotally moved into a position tending to hold the mirror against a stopper member as the mirror effects contact therewith, thereby to prevent mirror bounce when the mirror strikes the stopper. The suppression member includes an arcuate cam surface which is spring biased into engagement with a follower member on the mirror.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell of elongated shape adapted to be arranged at one side of the field of view of the camera finder has a plurality of opposing of transparent electrodes on opposite sides of a liquid crystal layer which are aligned to each other in a matrix form, whereby the necessary number of leads is reduced. In order for the liquid crystal layer to present an indication in a selected area, or areas, an alternating voltage is applied across the correspondingly aligned electrodes, while still preventing the above-identified alternating voltage to appear at two or more electrodes in one set simultaneously even when light is blocked in the two separated areas of the liquid crystal layer. In other words, the number of those of the plurality of electrodes in set to which the alternating voltage is applied at a time depending upon the exposure value is limited always to only one even when two separated areas are selected for light shuttering at a time.

Abstract: In the display system disclosed, a manually operated switching arrangement sets a display circuit, which displays data in response to a data signal from a data circuit, either into a display mode or a non-display mode. A control arrangement controls the display of the display circuit independently of the switching arrangement and produces a display signal automatically when a display operation is necessary. A warning circuit sets the display circuit into the display state independent of the switching means for displaying warning data instead of display data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal cell having a plural number of electrode pairs arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal matter so as to be opposed to each other, being characterized in that a pulse wave generating device for generating the first pulse wave with smaller amplitude than the threshold value for lighting the liquid crystal and the second pulse wave with larger amplitude than the threshold value for lighting the liquid crystal in reversed phase to each other and a gate device for selectively applying the outputs of the pulse wave generating device to each electrode of the liquid crystal cell in accordance with the input signal are provided. Thus, only the voltage between the selecting electrodes is higher than the threshold value. An input change over device is provided so as to change over the input signal group in a time dividing way in such a manner that a plural number of dots can be displayed visually at the same time. As a result, the wiring is simplified.

Abstract: In the view-finder of a camera having a TTL type light meter connected to an integrating-type analog-to-digital converter through a repeatedly operated electronic switch, there are positioned fifteen light emitting diodes upon selection of an exposure value by the converter, to illuminate a corresponding indicium on a scale of 15 exposure values, such as shutter times. Since a photo-cell exposed to scene light is also positioned in the view-finder, when the brightness of a scene to be photographed is lowered to such an extent that the influence of light from the energized diode on the photo-cell is not negligible, then the decoder for the diode arrangement is controlled to defer initiation of actuation of the one of the diodes which presents the display of an exposure value derived in the preceding cycle of light metering operation pending transition from the light integrating to the analog-to-digital converting step in the following cycle.