Abstract: In a finder optical system, a primary image is formed by an objective lens on a primary image formation face and is passed via a relay optical system to form a secondary image on a secondary image formation face. This secondary image is observed via an ocular lens system. A diffuser is arranged at the position of the secondary image formation face.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system which, albeit being simple in construction, enables images of a wide range of natural subjects to be well reproduced with their colors, and provides an image pickup system comprising, at least, an image pickup optical system 1, an electronic image pickup device 3 having three or more different spectral characteristics to obtain a color image and a controller 4 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 in said image pickup system comprises an optical element making use of a refraction phenomenon alone.

Abstract: A reflection type projecting screen includes a diffuse plate having a diffuse transmission surface for converting at least transmission light into diffused light and a corner cube array for reflecting the light passing through the diffuse plate to a position which is approximately similar to a passing position of the diffuse transmission surface. The diffuse plate and the corner cube array are positioned in an order of the diffuse plate and the corner cube array. The reflection screen is capable of improving utilization efficiency of light and simplifying the structure while reducing the effect of outside light. Furthermore, there are provided a front projector system and a multi-vision projector system each of which has a projector for projecting the projection light and a reflection screen for reflecting the projection light as diffused light having directivity in at least one predetermined direction, in accordance with the incident direction of the projection light.

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: Based on a given DCT algorithm developed before, a processing memory of a special structure is used to facilitate resource sharing. Accordingly, it is intended to reductions in the number of members required, function block areas, and power consumption, and further intended to accelerate processing speed, and reduce output latency. This apparatus is a DCT processor used for implementing discrete cosine transform, including: a storage and processing module for permutating data; and a computing module for computing data in accordance with a given DCT algorithm, wherein data is looped at a given number of times between the storage and processing module and the computing module, and a result of discrete cosine transform is obtained based on data read out of output units of the computing module.

Abstract: In a camera of the invention, during focus detection, luminous flux from an object is transmitted by a main mirror via an imaging lens, and then, is reflected by a reflection face of a sub-mirror. The reflected luminous flux is reflected by the main mirror, passes through a field stop, and is reflected by a guide mirror. The luminous flux reflected by this guide mirror is incident on a photoelectric converter element through a diaphragm and a refocusing lens. The luminous flux reflected by the main mirror reaches an eyepiece lens through a focusing glass and a pentaprism. During imaging, the main mirror and the sub-mirror are retracted from the imaging optical path. The luminous flux having passed through the imaging lens is guided to an image pickup device via an infrared filter and a low-pass filter.

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 present invention provides an image pickup apparatus which photoelectrically converts an optical image transmitted through a photographing optical system and formed on a photoconductive surface. The image pickup apparatus includes a first microlens array and a second microlens array each of which has a focal position in the vicinity of the photoconductive surface and is arrayed in a two-dimensional manner, a first photoconductive element group including units each formed by a single photoconductive element which is disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the first microlens array and outputs a first video signal, and a second photoconductive element group including units each formed by a pair of photoconductive elements which are disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the second microlens array and output a pair of second video signals.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a variable optical-property element, a driving circuit driving the variable optical-property element, and an image sensor. In order to compensate a change of an imaging state caused by at least one factor of temperature, humidity, a manufacturing error, a change of an object distance, and a zoom state, photographing is performed while referring to a look-up table to change driving information provided to the variable optical-property element, and the driving information that the high-frequency component of a photographed image is practically maximized is assumed so that the variable optical-property element is driven by the driving information to perform photographing.

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 compact zoom lens system having a high vari-focal ratio comprising at least two lens units in which the lens units are moved in loci different from each other to change a magnification and a refractive power variable optical element is used in the lens unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost focus detector that can carry out a focus detection over a wide field of view and can secure a sufficient light-receiving quantity to have an improved S/N ratio and an improved focus detection precision. A camera has a condenser lens disposed near a predetermined focusing surface of an image pick-up lens. At the rear of the condenser lens, a brightness diaphragm having a pair of apertures is disposed. Further, at the rear of the brightness diaphragm, a telecentric type image re-forming lenses are disposed. Images formed by beam fluxes passed through the image re-forming lenses are received by an image pick-up device that includes photoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: A lens system having a magnification changing function comprises a plurality of lens units, an aperture diaphragm, and a low-pass phase filter. At least one lens unit contributing to the magnification changing function is disposed on the image side of the aperture diaphragm. The low-pass phase filter is disposed appropriately away from the image plane. In one aspect, most of the magnification changing function is executed by the lens units disposed on the object side of the low-pass phase filter. In another aspect, the low-pass filter is constructed to be movable along the optical axis or inside or outside the optical path. In still another aspect, the low-pass filter has a variable characteristic. In further different aspect, the characteristic of the low-pass filter is determined so as to optimize the low-pass effect.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has an imaging optical system including an optical element system which undergoes changes in shape and refractive index by temperature or humidity. This optical apparatus is provided with at least one set of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element so that a beam of light emitted from the light-emitting element is received by said light-receiving element, and has a function of presuming a shift of an imaging position caused by the changes in shape and refractive index of the imaging optical system from an output of the light-receiving element.

Abstract: An imaging optical system comprising at least one diffractive optical element having a positive refractive power, at least one refractive optical element having a positive refractive power and at least one refractive optical element having a negative refractive power; and characterized in that it favorably corrects aberrations, in particular, chromatic aberration.

Abstract: An imaging lens system comprises an axial support section, such as a support hole, a notch, and a guide sleeve, integrally formed with a lens and arranged generally within the maximum diameter of the lens but outside an effective area of the lens through which an imaging light is transmitted. The imaging lens system also comprises a guide shaft that slidably supports the axial support section for a advancing and recessing motion of the lens. The area outside the imaging light transmitting area is effectively used. A small component count, compact and low-cost design is implemented in the imaging lens system.

Abstract: A focus detecting optical system for detecting a focus condition of an image of an object to be picked-up by an image forming lens including a condenser lens arranged in a vicinity of a predetermined focal plane of the image forming lens, aperture stop having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of image reforming lenses and a plurality of light receiving element arrays. At least one diffractive optical element having a lens function due to a diffraction is provided on a surface of the condenser lens or image reforming lenses. The diffractive optical element may be formed by kinoform or binary optical element having a step-wise configuration. The diffractive optical element may be formed in a surface of an infrared cut filter.

Abstract: A food material transferring apparatus basically includes a heating device, a pushing member, and a tray. Food materials are placed on a tray, and inserted into the heating device. The heating device heats the food material, and the pushing member is driven to push the food material from the heating device while folding the food material. An arm is provided with a hand having absorption pads to be able to absorb the food material. The arm is attached to a bi-directional straight proceeding mechanism, which moves the hand in the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the food material is taken out from the tray and inserted into the heating device.

Abstract: In an image pick-up device including an image forming lens, a focal condition of the image forming lens is detected by means of a focus detecting optical system including a condenser lens arranged near a predetermined focal plane of the image forming lens, a plurality of aperture stops which divides a light flux emanating from an object into a plurality of light fluxes, a plurality of image reforming lenses each corresponding to respective aperture stops and a plurality of light receiving element arrays each corresponding to respective image reforming lenses. Output characteristics of the light receiving element arrays are are expressed as three dimensional information, while an image position is expressed on X axis, a pupil position through which a light flux is transmitted is expressed on Y axis, and an intensity of light is expressed on Z axis. The three dimensional image is distorted on X-Z plane in accordance with defocus.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a container, a cooking plate above the container, and a receiving pan between the container and cooking plate. The cooking plate includes an electric heating element. A plurality of drip holes in the cooking plate allows cooking juices to drain from the cooking plate during cooking. The receiving pan supports the cooking plate and catches the juices to permit easy clean-up after cooking. The container supports the receiving pan and insulates both the cooking plate and receiving pan from a table or countertop surface.