Abstract: The invention relates to a focus detection optical system used with the so-called autofocus (AF) system mounted on single-lens reflex cameras (SLRs) or the like, and an imaging apparatus incorporating it. The focus detection optical system comprises at least n focus detection areas that are adjacent to or intersect each other on a predetermined imaging plane, where n?2. A re-imaging lens group comprises n+1 re-imaging lenses, A (n?1)th re-imaging lens and an nth re-imaging lens are a pair of re-imaging lenses that correspond to a (n?1)th focus detection area and are adjacent to each other. An nth re-imaging lens and a (n+1)th re-imaging lens are a pair of re-imaging lenses that correspond to the nth focus detection area and are adjacent to each other. The (n?1)th re-imaging lens and (n+1)th re-imaging lens are located at different positions.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: Input/output data classes defined based on an interface between a server and a client are embedded in a client application, and input/output data objects, which are instances of the input/output data classes, are generated when the client application calls a server application with a remote procedure call. When the client receives a reply message from the server, a data conversion for output parameters is not performed, and the output parameters are transferred unchanged to the data region of the output data object. Thereafter, when the client application references an output parameter, an obtainment process for the corresponding parameter of the output data object is called, the data conversion is performed only for the output parameter required for the obtainment process, and the value of the output parameter referenced by the client application is returned.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that comprises: an optical path splitting element; an optical system including a variable-optical-power element which is substantially immobile in an optical axis direction and a reflective surface; and an image pickup surface, the variable-optical-power element, the optical system, and the image pickup surface being arranged so that a ray from an object side is divided into two rays by the optical path splitting element, at least one of the rays enters the optical system, and is reflected by the reflective surface to return to the optical path splitting element, and the ray strikes on the image pickup surface via the optical path splitting element.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: A zoom optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit with positive refracting power, a second lens unit with negative refracting power, a third lens unit with positive refracting power, and a fourth lens unit with positive refracting power. An aperture stop is interposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit. Upon zooming, at least, the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the third lens unit are moved so that spacings between these lens units are varied. The first lens unit is constructed with at most two lens elements. The second lens unit includes, in order from the object side, a first negative lens in which the image-side surface is greater in curvature than the object-side surface, an air spacing, a second negative lens in which the image-side surface is greater in curvature than the object-side surface, an air spacing, and a positive lens in which the object-side surface is greater in curvature than the image-side surface.

Abstract: A compiler, which makes a computer carry out a process for generating a program used for a remote access to a virtual database comprising a first computer 11 including an application program and a second computer 12 being connected to the first computer 11 by way of a network and including one or more databases, replaces (1c) a description part relating to a DML execution process for the virtual database from a source code 7 of the application program with a description relating to an RPC process and generates a program for executing the DML execution process for the native databases based on the RPC process. The use of the program enables a high performance remote database access while applying a virtual database function aiming at facilitating a business logic buildup.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an imaging apparatus which works for size reductions, power savings, the efficient attainment of the quantity of light sensed, and prevention of contrast decreases due to a diffraction phenomenon, is well fit for the taking and appreciation of common still pictures, and comprises a taking lens and electronic imaging device combination that takes full advantage of the characteristics of an imaging device. The imaging apparatus comprises a taking optical system, and an electronic imaging device which is located on an image side of said taking optical system, includes an imaging plane I with a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged light sensors, and is adapted to convert an image formed through said imaging optical system into electrical signals.

Abstract: A zoom optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit with positive refracting power, a second lens unit with negative refracting power, a third lens unit with positive refracting power, and a fourth lens unit with positive refracting power. An aperture stop is interposed between the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit. Upon zooming, at least, the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the third lens unit are moved so that spacings between these lens units are varied. The first lens unit is constructed with at most two lens elements. The second lens unit includes, in order from the object side, a first negative lens in which the image-side surface is greater in curvature than the object-side surface, an air spacing, a second negative lens in which the image-side surface is greater in curvature than the object-side surface, an air spacing, and a positive lens in which the object-side surface is greater in curvature than the image-side surface.

Abstract: In the formation of a stacked IC device formed by stacking IC chips by a plurality of levels, the number of selecting bonding wires connected to select an IC chip on a certain level is reduced. The selecting device of the IC chip on each of the levels is connected to the selecting device on a neighboring level in the form of a chain to form a shift register so that only when a trigger signal is applied to the selecting device, the selecting device sequentially transmits a signal held in itself to the selecting device on the neighboring level.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: An optical system is presented that enables images of a wide range of natural subjects to be well reproduced with their colors, and provides an image pickup system including, at least, an image pickup optical system, an electronic image pickup device having three or more different spectral characteristics to obtain a color image, and a controller for implementing signal processing or image processing on the basis of an output from the electronic image pickup device. The optical element that takes part in determining the focal length in the image pickup system includes an optical element making use of a refraction phenomenon alone.

Abstract: An optical system is presented that enables images of a wide range of natural subjects to be well reproduced with their colors, and provides an image pickup system including, at least, an image pickup optical system, an electronic image pickup device having three or more different spectral characteristics to obtain a color image, and a controller for implementing signal processing or image processing on the basis of an output from the electronic image pickup device. The optical element that takes part in determining the focal length in the image pickup system includes an optical element making use of a refraction phenomenon alone.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that comprises: an optical path splitting element; an optical system including a variable-optical-power element which is substantially immobile in an optical axis direction and a reflective surface; and an image pickup surface, the variable-optical-power element, the optical system, and the image pickup surface being arranged so that a ray from an object side is divided into two rays by the optical path splitting element, at least one of the rays enters the optical system, and is reflected by the reflective surface to return to the optical path splitting element, and the ray strikes on the image pickup surface via the optical path splitting element.

Abstract: An optical system enables images to be well reproduced with their colors, and provides an image pickup system including an image pickup optical system, an electronic image pickup device to obtain a color image and a controller for implementing signal processing or image processing on the basis of an output from the electronic image pickup device. The optical element that takes part in the determination of a focal length includes an optical element making use of a refraction phenomenon alone. The 400-nm wavelength input/output ratio is 10% or less with respect to an input-output ratio for a 400-nm to 800-nm wavelength at which an output signal strength ratio with respect to an input quantity of light is highest when the input quantity of light is defined by the quantity of a light beam emanating from the same object point and entering the image pickup optical system and the output signal strength is defined by the strength of a signal produced from the controller in response to the light beam.

Abstract: The invention makes a suitable selection from zoom modes and lens elements so thin that the thickness of each lens group can reduced, thereby slimming down a zoom lens with great thoroughness and, hence, an electronic image pickup system. The electronic image pickup system a zoom lens and an electronic image pickup device located on the image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 comprising two lens components and having generally negative power and a second lens group G2 comprising two lens components and having generally positive power. The focal length of the zoom lens can be varied by varying the air separation between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2. The zoom lens should satisfy at least one of conditions (a) to (n).

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical system adapted to split an optical path from a taking optical system into a finder optical system, which has a camera-shake correction function best suited for the finder optical system, and so on. This optical system comprises a taking optical system and a finder optical system. The taking optical system comprises an optical path splitter means operable to split an optical path into the finder optical system, and the finder optical system includes a relay optical system RLS for re-forming a subject image once. Anti-shake is implemented by shifting an optical subsystem RL that forms a part of the finder optical system in a plane vertical to an optical axis.