Abstract: Taking lens device has zoom lens system comprised of plurality of lens units and achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances and image sensor that converts optical image formed by zoom lens system into electrical signal. Zoom lens system comprised of, from the object side, first lens unit having negative optical power, second lens unit having positive optical power, and third lens unit having positive optical power. First, second, and third lens units are each comprised of one lens element, and at least the first and second lens units are moved along the optical axis during zooming. Following conditional formula is fulfilled: 0.2<tW2-3/fW<1.2, where tW2-3 represents optical path length from the most image-side lens surface in second lens unit to the most object-side lens surface in third lens unit at wide-angle end, and fW represents focal length of the entire zoom lens system at wide-angle end.

Abstract: A taking lens device has a zoom lens system, including a plurality of lens units, for forming an optical image of an object with variable magnification achieved by varying the distances between the lens units, and an image sensor for converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal. The zoom lens system includes, from the object side to the image side a first lens unit that has a negative optical power, that is composed solely of a single negative lens element having a sharper curvature on the image side than on the object side thereof, and that is moved along the optical axis during zooming, and a second lens unit that is disposed with an aerial distance secured between itself and the first lens unit, that has a positive optical power, and that is moved along the optical axis during zooming. Moreover, the following conditional formulae are fulfilled: 0.3<t1/Y′<1.5 and 1.

Abstract: A taking lens device has zoom lens system that comprises plurality of lens units that achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances and image sensor that converts optical image formed by the system into an electrical signal. The lens system comprises, from object side: first lens unit having positive optical power, second lens unit having negative optical power, third lens unit having positive optical power, and fourth lens unit having positive optical power. During zooming from wide-angle to telephoto, fourth lens unit is moved toward the object side in zoom range from wide-angle to middle-focal-length position and toward the image side in zoom range from the middle-focal-length position to telephoto. Moreover, following conditional formula is satisfied: 9<f1/fW<30, where f1 represents a focal length of the first lens unit, and fW represents a focal length of entire lens system at wide-angle.

Abstract: A taking lens device has a zoom lens system having an optical system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances and an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal. The zoom lens system is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power. At least one of the following conditional formula is fulfilled: 1.1<f1/fT<2.5, where f1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit, and fT represents the focal length of the entirety optical system at the telephoto end, and 0.3<D34W/D34T<2.5 where D34W and D34T represent axial distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at wide-angle end and telephoto end, respectively.

Abstract: Taking lens apparatus has zoom lens system, focusing light from object to form optical image, and image-sensing device, converting optical image into electric signal. Lens system has: first lens unit having a positive optical power, composed of three or fewer lens elements including at least one negative lens element and at least one positive lens element; second lens unit having negative optical power and moving to be on image-plane side of its position in shortest-focal-length condition; and one or more succeeding lens units. This system varies magnification by varying distances between lens units, and fulfills 0.92<FW/IH<1.85, ND<1.53, and VD>78, where FW represents focal length of lens system in shortest-focal-length condition, IH represents maximum image height, ND represents refractive index for d line of positive lens element included in first lens unit, and VD represents Abbe number for d line of same positive lens element.

Abstract: A communication device having an image transmission function such as a video phone or a camera-equipped cellular phone. The image transmission function is capable of capturing an object image using an optimal size.

Abstract: A portable telephone 1 is provided with a body 2 and a camera unit 3. In the camera unit 3, photography is switched to macro photography by pressing a macro button 22 on the body 2. In this way, the convenience of the portable telephone 1 is improved because an object in the very near distance can be photographed. The camera unit 3 is constructed so as to be freely rotatable in a direction Rc on a shaft of a connector C. Accordingly, a user can freely modify the photography direction of the camera unit 3, thereby increasing the freedom of photography and providing greater improvement in the convenience of the portable terminal.

Abstract: Communication apparatuses (100) and (200) are provided with image-pickup cameras (110) and (210) respectively. When connected to the communication apparatus (200), the communication apparatus (100) detects whether or not the communication apparatus (200) has an image-pickup camera (210), and, upon detection of the image-pickup camera (210), requests the communication apparatus (200) to transmit control information for controlling the image-pickup camera (210). Based upon the resulting control information, it transmits a control signal for controlling the image-pickup camera (210) to the communication apparatus (200), and also displays an image transmitted and obtained from the communication apparatus (200). In other words, the communication apparatus (100) transmits the control signal for controlling the image-pickup camera (210) on the other side to the receiving end so that the image-pickup camera (210) on the other side is controlled by the control signal.

Abstract: A taking lens device has a zoom lens system, including a plurality of lens units, for forming an optical image of an object with variable magnification achieved by varying the distances between the lens units, and an image sensor for converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal. The zoom lens system includes, from the object side to the image side a first lens unit that has a negative optical power, that is composed solely of a single negative lens element having a sharper curvature on the image side than on the object side thereof, and that is moved along the optical axis during zooming, and a second lens unit that is disposed with an aerial distance secured between itself and the first lens unit, that has a positive optical power, and that is moved along the optical axis during zooming. Moreover, the following conditional formulae are fulfilled: 0.3<t1/Y′<1.5 and 1.

Abstract: An imaging lens device has an imaging lens system that forms an optical image and an image sensing device that converts the optical image formed by the imaging lens system into an electronic signal. The imaging lens system includes two lens elements each made of a homogeneous material and having a positive optical power, and fulfills the following condition: 1.25<L/f<2.00, where L is the distance from the most object side lens surface to the image plane, and f is the overall focal length of the lens system.

Abstract: A communication terminal is provided with a line establishing means which establishes lines to a plurality of different terminals on the other side in parallel with each other. Moreover, the communication terminal is provided with a microphone through which voice is inputted, and a communication control means for transmitting voice inputted through the microphone to a plurality of different terminals on the other side. Thus, it is possible to simultaneously transmit the voice to a plurality of partners. Furthermore, the communication control means can receive voices transmitted from a plurality of difference terminals on the other side, and since the voices received by the communication control means are outputted from a speaker, it is possible to carry out conversations among a plurality of users at the same time.

Abstract: In a mobile telephone (1), an image pickup unit (20) that is allowed to freely pivot centered on axes that are directed in a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction. The image pickup unit (20) is allowed to pivot in accordance with the operation of a joystick placed on the rear face of a main body (10). Thus, it is possible to easily obtain a desired image without the need of changing the orientation of the main body (10). Moreover, the image pickup unit (20) is rotated by 90° centered on an axis extended from the front to rear direction so that it is possible to provide an image obtained by replacing the length in the longitudinal direction with the length in the lateral direction of the original image.

Abstract: A taking lens device has a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the unit-to-unit distances and an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal. The zoom lens system is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power. The following conditional formula is fulfilled: 1.1<f1/fT<2.5, where f1 represents the focal length of the first lens unit, and fT represents the focal length of the entire optical system at the telephoto end.

Abstract: A optical device has a zoom lens system that is comprised of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying unit-to-unit distances and an image sensor that converts an optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal. The zoom lens system is comprised of, from the object side, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive optical power. The zoom lens system achieves zooming by varying the distances between the first to fourth lens units.

Abstract: A zoom lens system has from an object side a first lens group of a positive refractive power, a second lens group of a positive refractive power and a third lens group of a negative refractive power. The second lens group has from the object side a lens unit and a positive lens element convex to the object side. Focusing for a close object is performed by moving the lens unit toward the object side. In the zoom lens, the following condition is fulfilled: ##EQU1## where r1 is a radius of curvature of an object side surface of the positive lens element and r2 is a radius of curvature of an image side surface of the positive lens element.

Abstract: An optical system design method determines a specific optical group having a relatively high decentering aberration error sensitivity to parallel decentering and tilt decentering, and minimizes the absolute value of the decentering aberration coefficient of that group. In a first stage, an optical system group consisting of at least one lens surface is identified which presents a problem in production because of a relatively high centering error sensitivity. A second stage calculates decentering aberration using a decentering aberration coefficient of the group identified in the first stage, and compares a decentering aberration that is obtained by the calculation with actual decentering aberration.

Abstract: An optical system has a plurality of lens elements and a lens block including a single lens or multiple lenses included in the plurality of lens elements, wherein an extent of curvature of field asymmetricity in two or more directions is detected by an off-axial rays that have passed through a lens block constituting one or more lens elements in the optical system and wherein a position of the lens block is adjusted such that the curvature of field asymmetricity is reduced to a minimum, wherein the lens block fulfills the predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A structure for holding lenses in which they are inserted into a lens frame in an axial direction thereof for their mounting thereon, and in which a lens that is first inserted into the lens frame is fixed thereto by caulking a part of the lens frame against the lens, so that an enlargement in a radial direction of the lens frame is prevented. The lens frame has three through-holes in a circumferential direction with an equal space therebetween in which the through-holes form around an intermediate position thereof relative to the axial direction, a stepped surface on a first end opposite a second end from which the lens is inserted, and a partial caulking projection which forms inside each hole as a part of the lens frame.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a positive lens unit and a negative lens unit. Focusing in a focal length range from a shortest focal length condition to a middle focal length condition is performed by moving the positive lens unit, and focusing in a focal length range from the middle focal length condition to a longest focal length condition is performed by moving the negative lens unit. The zoom lens system fulfills the following condition: ##EQU1## where B.sub.f is a distance from a rear end surface of the zoom lens system to a film at the shortest focal length condition and .increment.t is a diagonal length of the film.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a plurality of lens units. First to third focal length zones are set according to the focal length. During focusing, in the first focal length zone, the lens units are moved at a first constant ratio, and in the third focal length zone, the lens units are moved at a second constant ratio which is different from the first constant ratio. In the second focal length zone, the movement ratio of the lens units varies according to the focal length.