Abstract: In a color separation optical system in a camera, subject light entering focus-imaging elements, to which optical path lengths from the taking lens are different, is obtained with a light dividing face. The focusing state is determined with focus evaluation values according to high frequency components of images captured by the focus-imaging elements. Thus, the focusing state can be quickly determined by a simple construction without using the wobbling method. The green light in the subject light entering the color separation optical system is transmitted through a blue light separation prism and a red light separation prism, and is divided into a reflected light and a transmitted light by a beam splitter face, which is a contact face between a first green light separation prism and a second green light separation prism. The light reflected on the beam splitter face exits from the color separation optical system as the subject light for determining the focusing state, and enters the focus-imaging element.

Abstract: An autofocus adapter for detachably mounting between an imaging lens and a camera body and for detecting the focus state of the imaging lens is disclosed. The autofocus adapter includes two focus state detecting elements with light receiving surfaces slightly displaced in front and in back of a desired position of focus of the imaging lens. A beamsplitter directs some light to the two focus state detecting elements and some light through the autofocus adapter for forming an image in a camera. The autofocus adapter includes a relay lens system and electronics for detecting the focus state and controlling the focus of the imaging lens to an in-focus state based on the images detected at the two focus state detecting elements. The beamsplitter may deflect equal amounts of light to the two light receiving surfaces, and the autofocus adapter may include an iris.

Abstract: An auxiliary imaging lens is attachable to the main part of zoom lens on the object side; and is configured such that, when capturing an image for a screen having an aspect ratio of 4:3, an effective imaging area having such a size that the screen having an aspect ratio of 4:3 in a case without using the auxiliary imaging lens is just held therein can be secured, and a focal length yielding a field of view area substantially on a par with a field of view area obtained when capturing an image for a screen having an aspect ratio of 16:9 can be set.

Abstract: In a TV camera main body, a still-image-luminous-flux-decomposing prism is disposed adjacent to a color-decomposing prism of a TV-image-capturing system, whereby still images whose aberration is favorably corrected as with TV images are obtained in a simple and compact configuration. A mechanical shutter is disposed in an optical path of the still-image-capturing system, so as to prevent image blurring and smear from occurring due to temporal shifts between field images. A four-block color-decomposing prism 11A, in which each glass prism has a form identical to a color-decomposing prism of a dual green type, is constituted by a still-image-capturing prism 2d, and a TV-image-capturing three-color-decomposing prism system comprising a prism for blue 2a, a prism for red 2b, and a prism for green 2c. A mechanical shutter 34 is disposed between the light exit end face 7d of the still-image-capturing prism 2d and its cover glass 6d.

Abstract: In a color separation optical system in a camera, subject light entering focus-imaging elements, to which optical path lengths from the taking lens are different, is obtained with a light dividing face. The focusing state is determined with focus evaluation values according to high frequency components of images captured by the focus-imaging elements. Thus, the focusing state can be quickly determined by a simple construction without using the wobbling method. The green light in the subject light entering the color separation optical system is transmitted through a blue light separation prism and a red light separation prism, and is divided into a reflected light and a transmitted light by a beam splitter face, which is a contact face between a first green light separation prism and a second green light separation prism. The light reflected on the beam splitter face exits from the color separation optical system as the subject light for determining the focusing state, and enters the focus-imaging element.

Abstract: A method and device for driving a display panel are provided in which power consumption due to interelectrode capacitance in the addressing period is reduced with less number of components in a driving circuit. Four switches 41-44 are provided for each of plural data electrodes. The four switches 41-44 control open and close of a current path p1 from a bias potential line 81 to the data electrode A, a current path p2 from a capacitor 55 to the data electrode A, a current path p3 from the data electrode A to the capacitor 55, and a current path p4 from the data electrode A to the ground potential line 82.

Abstract: A method and device for driving a display panel are provided in which power consumption due to interelectrode capacitance in the addressing period is reduced with less number of components in a driving circuit. Four switches 41-44 are provided for each of plural data electrodes. The four switches 41-44 control open and close of a current path p1 from a bias potential line 81 to the data electrode A, a current path p2 from a capacitor 55 to the data electrode A, a current path p3 from the data electrode A to the capacitor 55, and a current path p4 from the data electrode A to the ground potential line 82.

Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display, in which the reliability is enhanced by preventing the short-circuit and insulation breakdown of a gate insulating portion and the delay time of a gate bus line is shortened by reducing the resistivity of an interconnect film. The liquid crystal display of this type is manufactured by the steps of forming an interconnect/electrode film on a substrate by physical deposition; patterning the interconnect/electrode film; and anodic-oxidizing part or all of the interconnect/electrode film. In this method, the interconnect/electrode film is formed of an Al alloy containing at least one kind selected from a group consisting Fe, Co and rare earth elements in an amount of 0.1 to 10 at %; and the thickness of the anodic oxidation film is specified to be in the range of 200 Å or more.

Abstract: A shift in focal point due to longitudinal chromatic aberration of a photographing lens is properly corrected in accordance with various photographing conditions, by means of controlling the thickness of a variable-thickness optical filter interposed between an image pickup lens system and a solid-state image pickup element, on the basis of a correlation table defining the correlation between photographing conditions and the thickness of the variable-thickness optical filter that can correct a shift in focal point. A variable-thickness optical filter is interposed between a photographing lens system and a CCD having sensitivity ranging from the visible-light range to the infrared range. The thickness of the optical filter is changed, by means of controlling an actuator on the basis of a correlation table defining the correlation between the photographing conditions and the thickness of the variable-thickness optical filter which can correct the shift in optical focal point.

Abstract: The sputtering target is manufactured by adjusting the ratio of the gas flow volume (Nm3)/molten liquid flow mass (kg) to 5 Nm3/kg or more in the gas atomizing step of the spray forming method using an Al or Al alloy sputtering target material in which the maximum length of all the inclusions is 20 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A plasma display panel that can enlarge the voltage margin and can realize a stable display is provided. The plasma display panel includes first and second display electrodes X, Y for generating surface discharge and address electrodes A that cross the display electrodes via a dielectric layer. In the preparation process of the addressing for forming charge distribution corresponding to display contents, charge forming and charge adjusting are performed. The charge forming generates wall voltage having the same polarity at the same kind of interelectrode of all cells constituting the screen, for three kinds of interelectrodes, an interelectrode XY between the display electrodes, an interelectrode XA between the first display electrode and the address electrode, and an interelectrode YA between the second display electrode and the address electrode. The charge adjusting decreases the wall voltage by applying an increasing voltage that increases continuously or step by step.

Abstract: An auxiliary imaging lens is attachable to the main part of zoom lens on the object side; and is configured such that, when capturing an image for a screen having an aspect ratio of 4:3, an effective imaging area having such a size that the screen having an aspect ratio of 4:3 in a case without using the auxiliary imaging lens is just held therein can be secured, and a focal length yielding a field of view area substantially on a par with a field of view area obtained when capturing an image for a screen having an aspect ratio of 16:9 can be set.

Abstract: An Al alloy film containing one kind or two or more kinds of alloy components selected from a group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and Mn in a total amount of 0.1 to 10 at %, and a melting Al alloy sputtering target for depositing the Al alloy film, wherein the above-mentioned film is used as a reflection film for an optical recording medium, a shading film for a liquid crystal display panel or for a solid image pickup device, and an Al alloy thin film line or electrode material for a semiconductor device.

Abstract: In a still-image-capturing system, a still-image-capturing lens group having totally the same configuration (the same number of lens sheets, lens form, and lens material) as the lens group used only for a TV-image-capturing system is disposed downstream a half mirror, and a rectangular prism is disposed for providing a luminous flux with an optical path length identical to that within a color-decomposing prism when the luminous flux passes therethrough. In another aspect, a focal length conversion lens group for changing the focal length of zoom lens groups and a total reflection mirror is disposed on the optical axis of the zoom lens groups exclusively from each other. In still another aspect, an electronic still camera is attached to the still-image-capturing system.

Abstract: An extender lens group removably incorporated in a zoom lens equipped with a temperature compensating feature for increasing the prim-lens focal length to achieve increased magnification is comprised of a front extender lens sub-group including four lens elements and a rear extender lens sub-group including two lens elements, the front extender lens sub-group including two positive bi-convex lens elements each of which has a strong curvature at the subject side surface followed by an overall positive doublet comprising a positive bi-convex lens element with a strong curvature at the subject side surface and a negative bi-concave lens element with a strong curvature at the image side surface and the rear extender lens sub-group including an overall positive doublet comprising a bi-concave lens element with a strong curvature at the image side surface and a positive meniscus lens element with a concave surface on the subject side.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode for semiconductor devices capable of suppressing the generation of hillocks and reducing the resistivity, which is suitable for an active matrixed liquid crystal display and the like in which a thin film transistor is used; its fabrication method; and a sputtering target for forming the electrode film for semiconductor devices. The electrode for semiconductor devices is made of an Al alloy containing the one or more alloying elements selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh and Ir, in a total amount from 0.1 to 10 At %, or one or more alloying elements selected from rare earth elements, in a total amount from 0.05 to 15 at %.

Abstract: An Al alloy film containing one kind or two or more kinds of alloy components selected from a group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and Mn in a total amount of 0.1 to 10 at %, and a melting Al alloy sputtering target for depositing the Al alloy film, wherein the above-mentioned film is used as a reflection film for an optical recording medium, a shading film for a liquid crystal display panel or for a solid image pickup device, and an Al alloy thin film line or electrode material for a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A zoom lens having four lens groups, the lens groups having refractive power, in order from the object side, of: fixed positive, variable negative, variable positive or negative, and fixed positive. The first lens group from the object side is composed of three lens subgroups, the middle subgroup of which is moved to perform focusing. The second lens group is moved to vary the amount of zoom, and the third lens group moves when the amount of zoom is varied in order to correct for movement of the image plane resulting when the second lens group is moved. Thus, the optical performance of the zoom lens is favorably maintained over the entire image plane. Further, by satisfying certain conditional equations a system that is compact and can focus objects at very near distances is obtained.

Abstract: A triple-electrode planar display capable of achieving further power saving has been disclosed. A drive unit is dedicated to a planar display having a display panel in which cells being arranged in the form of a matrix and having a memory function and discharge glow function are formed, in which one of each pair of electrodes on the same substrate which are responsible for discharge glow is a common electrode connected in common. The drive unit includes a common electrode drive circuit for applying an alternating voltage to the common electrode, and a power save circuit that when the common electrode is changed from a high potential to a low potential, restores and accumulates power applied to the common electrode, and that when the common electrode is changed from the high potential to the low potential, applies accumulated power to the common electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is magnetic recording media having a high coercivity sufficient to cope with the recent high density recording, low noise property and excellent squareness, and a target for forming a magnetic film useful for realizing the magnetic recording media. The magnetic film is made of a Co based alloy containing: Cr in an amount of 8-18 atomic %; one kind or more of elements selected from a group consisting of V, Mo and W in an amount of 3-10 atomic %, or one kind or more of the elements and Ta in an amount of 3-10 atomic %; Pt in an amount of 0.5 to 20 atomic % or Ni in an amount of 5-30 atomic %, as needed; and the balance being Co and inevitable impurities, wherein the total content of Cr and one kind or more of the elements selected from a group consisting of V, Mo and W, or of Cr and one kind or more of the elements and Ta is specified to be 24 atomic % or less.