Abstract: An apparatus for controlling communication with an attachable sensor attached to a target patient includes a circuit. The circuit obtains a first piece of battery data indicating a state of a first battery included in the sensor, the first piece of battery data being transmitted from the sensor to the apparatus through a network. The circuit issues, to the sensor, a communication control command that changes a communication setting set in the sensor to a setting according to the first piece of battery data.

Abstract: In order to efficiently remove dust, an image pick up apparatus is provided with an image sensor for acquiring subject images via a photographing lens, a shift mechanism, holding the image sensor, capable of moving the image sensor in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographing lens, and in a second direction that is different from the first direction, a sensor arranged in front of the image sensor, for detecting vibration applied to the optical element that is displaced by the shift mechanism together with the image sensor, and a controller for driving the shift mechanism according to output of the sensor for detecting vibration when operation is carried out to prevent image shake due to vibration applied to the image pickup apparatus, and moving the shift mechanism in accordance with a specified pattern regardless of sensor output when carrying out a dust removal operation for removing dust that has become attached to the surface of the optical element.

Abstract: A lens barrel movable between a collapsed position and a photographing position, and a picture taking apparatus using the lens barrel. The lens barrel has lens groups movable along an optical axis, a deformable mirror supported in the lens barrel, the deformable mirror having a reflecting surface which varies to vary its optical power, a picture taking optical system including the lens groups and the deformable mirror, and a driving mechanism for retracting the deformable mirror from a light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the collapsed position, and inserting the deformable mirror into the light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the photographing position.

Abstract: In order to efficiently remove dust, an image pick up apparatus is provided with an image sensor for acquiring subject images via a photographing lens, a shift mechanism, holding the image sensor, capable of moving the image sensor in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographing lens, and in a second direction that is different from the first direction, a sensor arranged in front of the image sensor, for detecting vibration applied to the optical element that is displaced by the shift mechanism together with the image sensor, and a controller for driving the shift mechanism according to output of the sensor for detecting vibration when operation is carried out to prevent image shake due to vibration applied to the image pickup apparatus, and moving the shift mechanism in accordance with a specified pattern regardless of sensor output when carrying out a dust removal operation for removing dust that has become attached to the surface of the optical element.

Abstract: In a lens-interchangeable digital camera having a half mirror arranged in a shooting optical path and capable of displaying a live view, the half mirror is made movable between a position inserted into the shooting optical path and a position retracted from the shooting optical path, and when power-on is detected, the movable half mirror is returned to the position in the shooting optical path, while when power-off is detected, the movable half mirror is retracted from the shooting optical path. Further, upon detecting the mounting state of a lens barrel, when removal of the lens barrel is detected, the movable half mirror is retracted, while when mounting of the lens barrel is detected, the movable half mirror is returned.

Abstract: There is disclosed an imaging apparatus including an image pickup device, a dust proof member provided in front of the image pickup device, and a fluid pump having a piezoelectric element as a drive source to generate a flow of air toward the front surface of the dust proof member. The flow of air is used to remove dust adhering on the surface of the dust proof member. For example, the dust proof member can be configured as a low-pass filter or a transparent glass member arranged on an imaging optical path.

Abstract: An image capturing system comprises an image capturing terminal and a host computer. The image capturing terminal includes an image capturing section configured to capture images, an image data processor configured to generate image data according to the data obtained from the image capturing section, a receiver configured to receive progress information describing a progress of a predetermined program transmitted from the host computer, and a recorder configured to record the progress information received by the receiver in a recording medium. The host computer includes a progress information generator configured to generate the progress information, and a transmitter configured to transmit the progress information generated by the progress information generator. The recorder is configured to record the progress information at the time of capturing an image by the image capturing section in the recording medium, relating it to the image data generated by the image data processor.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus includes a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitted from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strobe apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A server (1) includes a database (1c) for recording a member telephone number correlated with a dedicated telephone number set for each member and a caller telephone number detection device (1d) for detecting a telephone number of a user. The server (1) extracts a telephone number of a member by using the dedicated telephone number as a key and transmits it together with the telephone number of the user to a reception relay device (10) of a callback company (2) via the Internet (21), so that callback is performed to connect the line. Thus, it is possible to cope with an enquiry from a mobile telephone without charging the customer a communication fare, thereby suppressing the communication fare and protecting the customer personal information.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus includes a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitted from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strobe apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus includes a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitted from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strobe apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A lens barrel movable between a collapsed position and a photographing position, and a picture taking apparatus using the lens barrel. The lens barrel has lens groups movable along an optical axis, a deformable mirror supported in the lens barrel, the deformable mirror having a reflecting surface which varies to vary its optical power, a picture taking optical system including the lens groups and the deformable mirror, and a driving mechanism for retracting the deformable mirror from a light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the collapsed position, and inserting the deformable mirror into the light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the photographing position.

Abstract: A lens barrel movable between a collapsed position and a photographing position, and a picture taking apparatus using the lens barrel. The lens barrel has lens groups movable along an optical axis, a deformable mirror supported in the lens barrel, the deformable mirror having a reflecting surface which varies to vary its optical power, a picture taking optical system including the lens groups and the deformable mirror, and a driving mechanism for retracting the deformable mirror from a light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the collapsed position, and inserting the deformable mirror into the light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the photographing position.

Abstract: A camera having a camera-blur warning function which is adapted to switch between executing a camera-blur detecting mode and stopping the camera-blur detecting mode by the setting of a camera strobe mode. In a photographing scene where occurrence of a camera-blur is on a user's mind, a camera-blur detecting mode is set, thereby to detect vibration. In case any camera-blur occurs, warning is made so that the user may recognize it. Furthermore, at the time of determining holding, a conventional optical sensor which is already mounted as a sensor for measuring distance is utilized for determining the camera-blur.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus includes a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitted from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strobe apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A strobe apparatus of the present invention has a xenon tube, which is a discharge tube, having a discharge light emitting portion and a light emitting portion terminal. Light is emitting from the xenon tube and is reflected in a predetermined direction by a reflection umbrella. A transparent electrode is coated on the external surface of the xenon tube from the discharge light emitting portion to the terminal. When trigger voltage is applied to the xenon tube through the transparent electrode, strobe light is emitted by the discharge light emitting portion. By using the strode apparatus, the orientation characteristic of the discharge tube can be improved without uneven light distribution and a shortage of a light amount.

Abstract: A lens barrel movable between a collapsed position and a photographing position, and a picture taking apparatus using the lens barrel. The lens barrel has lens groups movable along an optical axis, a deformable mirror supported in the lens barrel, the deformable mirror having a reflecting surface which varies to vary its optical power, a picture taking optical system including the lens groups and the deformable mirror, and a driving mechanism for retracting the deformable mirror from a light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the collapsed position, and inserting the deformable mirror into the light path of the picture taking optical system when the lens barrel lies at the photographing position.

Abstract: A camera is provided which enables the selection of a plurality of specifications in a simple structure and by a simple method. A first contact pattern, a second contact pattern, and a third contact pattern are provided at different positions, respectively. The mode of the camera can be optionally selected out of a derivative mode switch having a first mode setting button which enables conduction of the first contact pattern and the second contact pattern, and a derivative mode switch having a first mode setting button which enables conduction of the first contact pattern and the third contact pattern.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel in a camera is driven by a drive motor via a zoom drive gear train and a lens barrel gear train. A finder optical system, which is interlocked with the zoom lens barrel, is driven by the drive motor through the zoom drive gear train, a finder drive gear train, a friction clutch mechanism and a finder cam. Since the finder optical system is driven via the friction clutch mechanism, a phase adjustment between the lens barrel and the finder optical system is easily performed. The camera is easily assembled without paying particular attention to zoom position deviation in the finder optical system.

Abstract: A rangefinding device for use in a camera comprising a projection section for projecting a light beam emitted by a light source through a projection lens to an object, a light pickup section disposed diagonally opposite from the projection section that picks up, on its light pickup element, light reflected off the object, two-dimensionally senses the light, and outputs incident light position information, a CPU for computing the range to the object based on the output of the light pickup section and an attitude sensor section for sensing the orientation or attitude of the camera. In response to the output of the attitude sensor section, the CPU computes the range to the object based on the incident light position information in either the vertical direction or horizontal direction of the photographing frame, output by the light pickup section.