Abstract: A variable focal length camera has a lens barrel movable parallel to the optical axis of its taking lens system so as to change over the focal length of the taking lens system at least between a standard photography position and a telephoto position. When the subject distance is nearer than the nearest focusable distance for standard photography or for telephotography, the lens barrel is automatically moved into a first close-up position if the lens barrel has been in the standard photography position, whereas the lens barrel is moved into a second close-up position if the lens barrel has been in the telephoto position.

Abstract: An on-board navigation apparatus which uses a driver having a changer function to selectively reproduce any of music- and map-containing storage media. When it becomes necessary to read map data during reproduction of a music-containing medium, the current medium is replaced with the applicable map-containing medium upon arrival of an intra-music interval. This allows one driver driving both music and map data media to read map data without interrupting the piece of music being reproduced.

Abstract: A method of gettering unintentional mobile impurities starts with production of an damaged portion on the reverse side of a silicon wafer, and the silicon wafer is placed in a high temperature vacuum ambience so that the unintentional mobile impurities are firstly trapped by the damaged portion and, then, evacuated to the high temperature vacuum ambience.

Abstract: An onboard navigation system for displaying a map in a scrolling manner while a mark showing the position of the vehicle is fixed. The system is adapted so that the fixed display position of the mark indicating the vehicle's position can be set at an arbitrary selected position, satisfying a user's demand for viewing a map of an area further ahead of the vehicle in the direction of the vehicle's movement.

Abstract: An on-board navigation apparatus having a GPS receiver detects a difference between the current and the previous values of the estimated current position in terms of the longitude and latitude information gained from GPS data. The difference is added to the coordinates of the previously established position, the result being taken for the coordinates of the estimated current position. This makes it possible to estimate the current position coordinates accurately even if the accuracy of GPS data is not high enough. When the GPS receiver is in a two-dimensional measuring state, the coordinates of the estimated current position are obtained from a manually or automatically designated elevation value and from the GPS data. This allows the current position coordinates to be estimated with accuracy even if the accuracy of GPS data has dropped due to the two-dimensional measuring instead of a three-dimensional measuring.

Abstract: A data processor includes a data unscrambling unit. The unit includes a memory circuit for storing data supplied thereto in a scrambled form, the data stored in the memory circuit being thereafter read out therefrom in an order which is to be the unscrambled form. The memory circuit includes a memory cell array, a set of first terminals supplied with a write address having a value which is changed one by one, a data write control circuit for writing data into the memory cell array in a first order in accordance with changes in value of the write address. A set of second terminals is supplied with a read address having a value which is changed one by one. A data read control circuit reads out data from the memory cell array in a second order that is different from the first order, the read out being in accordance with a change in value of the read address.

Abstract: A zoom lens system shifts the position of front and rear lens groups relative to each other in the direction of the optical axis to change its focal length, by moving a lens barrel back and forth in the axial direction. The lens barrel is formed with cutouts in its rear portion for receiving therein parts and elements projecting forwardly from the plane in which an exposure aperture is located when the lens barrel is retracted, so as to reduce the thickness of the camera with the retracted zoom lens. A focal length changing mechanism comprises a fixed cam and a lever attached to the lens barrel which is turned by the cam when the lens barrel moves back and forth to shift one lens group, thereby changing the focal length of the zoom lens to desired focal lengths. To correct the changes in focus of the zoom lens caused by the change of focal length, an adjusting member is provided in the focal length changing mechanism.

Abstract: A camera with a taking lens system changeable in focal length between a relatively long and a relatively short focal length, which has an exposure control meter comprising a masking member disposed in front of a photoelectric element to provide an electric exposure control output, and formed with first and second openings for allowing light that has passed therethrough to fall on the photoelectric element at different incident angles. A light stop member is movable to cover or uncover the second openings upon changing the taking lens system between the relatively long and relatively short focal lengths.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera is equipped with an automatic subject distance detecting device for detecting which of a plurality of predetermined distances is nearest to that at which the subject lies. A lens positioning member adjusts an objective lens to a suitable focusing position in which the objective lens has a depth of field straddling that nearest predetermined distance detected by the automatic subject distance detecting device. Another lens positioning member adjusts the objective lens to a focusing position in which the objective lens will be focused on a subject, such as a landscape, at infinity, independently of the distances detected by the automatic subject distance detecting device. The latter objective lens positioning member is externally operable when it is intended to photograph a subject at infinity, before depressing the shutter button.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera which is equipped with a taking lens system changeable in focal length between at least two different focal lengths: a relatively short focal length suitable for wide-angle photography, and a relatively long focal length suitable for telephotography. When the taking lens system is changed to have the relatively short focal length, the taking lens is further changed to be able to take close-up photographs and the automatic focusing is simultaneously changed to cover a short subject distance range between, for example 0.1 and 1.0 m.

Abstract: An integrated plastic back lid for cameras is provided with a reinforcing metal plate firmly attached to the back lid for preventing the back lid from being deformed and a pressure plate for holding a film flat which is held resiliently by the reinforcing plate. For resiliently holding the pressure plate, resiliently deformable holding arms are integrally formed either on the pressure plate or on the reinforcing plate. The pressure plate and the reinforcing plate are assembled before being attached to the back lid.

Abstract: A motor-driven film winding mechanism for cameras has a driving force transmission including a clutch releasably connecting a sprocket drum to the driving force transmission. The clutch can operate to release the sprocket drum from the system in dependence on the speed of movement of the sprocket drum relative to that of the transmission so as to cause the sprocket drum to be driven by the film either when wound up or rewound. The transmission is a gear train one of whose gears drives ratchets that engage with a ratchet wheel on the sprocket drum to constitute the one-way clutch.

Abstract: The start of the leading curtain or the trailing curtain of a focal plane shutter is controlled to obtain an accurate exposure time. A delay means is provided in the mechanism for releasing the leading curtain or in the mechanism for releasing the trailing curtain. The difference between the delay time of the start of the leading curtain and the delay time of the start of the trailing curtain is controlled to be equal to the constant time during which the leading curtain runs overlapping with the trailing curtain. In one embodiment, an inertia member is provided in the vicinity of the curtain release member to delay the movement of the curtain release member. In another embodiment, an electric delay circuit is provided to delay the start of the trailing curtain. In both embodiments, the time of delay of the start of the curtain can be controlled.

Abstract: Both the shutter speed and the diaphragm opening are selected in accordance with the exposure value measured by an exposure meter. A step cam plate is brought into engagement with the pointer of the exposure meter and the amount of movement of the step cam plate is determined by the position of the pointer. The step cam plate is associated with an exposure control ring which controls the diaphragm and the shutter speed. The exposure control ring is locked in its position during the exposure operation by means of a lock lever which is put into engagement with the exposure control ring when the mirror is swung up.

Abstract: A device for controlling an electric focal plane shutter in a camera is described, in which an electromagnet which controls the timing of a trailing curtain of the shutter is excited in response to the depression of a shutter release member and demagnetized when a predetermined time has lapsed. An actuating member is provided between the shutter release member and a leading curtain holding lever so that the leading curtain may be released upon operation of the actuating member. A blocking lever is provided to block the actuating member. The blocking lever is moved to a position to release the actuating member by the excitation of the magnet. Further, by the excitation of the magnet, a starting lever which brings the trailing curtain holding lever to its holding position is actuated to bring the latter to the holding position. A delay circuit is provided in the device to delay the excitation of the magnet.

Abstract: A manually operable mirror swing-up lever is associated with an exposure information memorizing device. The exposure information memorizing device has a locking lever which locks a sliding contact movable on a variable resistor at a position representing the exposure information. The variable resistor is connected in parallel with a memory capacitor in an electric circuit for controlling an electric shutter. The terminal voltage of the variable resistor is controlled to be equivalent to the terminal voltage of the memory capacitor. When the mirror is swung up by the manually operable mirror swing-up lever, the sliding contact is locked in position to make the variable resistor work as an equivalent for the capacitor, and the resistor is substituted for the memory capacitor.