Abstract: The arrangement of focus-detecting sensors for autofocus in multipoint range finding and the arrangement of light detection sensors for focus detecting regions are optimized. Further, the chip area and power consumption are reduced. Light detection sensors are provided on the sensor chip in a manner such as to be disposed between focus-detecting sensors provided on the same sensor chip.

Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element 106 including image pickup pixels photoelectrically converting an object image formed by a light flux from an image pickup optical system 202 and focus detection pixels photoelectrically converting two images formed by two divided light fluxes of the light flux from the image pickup optical system. The apparatus further includes an image generator 112 generating an image based on first pixel signals, a focus controller 112 performing focus control for the image pickup optical system based on second pixel signals. A signal processor 112 outputs signals read out from the image pickup pixels after each charge accumulation operation of the image pickup pixels for a predetermined time period as the first pixel signals, and outputs signals obtained by plural charge accumulation operations of the focus detection pixels as the second pixel signals.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises a shutter driving member which drives a shutter blade; a shutter spring which urges the shutter driving member; a shutter charge unit which charges the shutter spring, and is switched between an over-charged state and a travel prepared state; a driving unit which drives the shutter charge unit; a retaining unit which, when the shutter charge unit is set in the travel prepared state, retains the shutter driving member in a state in which the shutter spring is charged; a determination unit which determines whether or not the apparatus is executing a continuous shooting operation; and a controller which, when it is determined that the apparatus is executing the continuous shooting operation, controls to drive the shutter charge unit to the travel prepared state without stopping the shutter charge unit in the over-charged state after the charge operation of the shutter spring is complete.

Abstract: To aim at improvement of reliability of a semiconductor device of flip chip connection type. In assembling a BGA of flip chip connection type, when a semiconductor chip is solder-connected by a flip chip connection, because solder precoat is formed on the surface of a land on the side of an undersurface of a wiring substrate, the connection between the land and a solder ball, which is an external terminal, is solder-connection, and therefore, it is possible to increase impact resistance of a connection part between the land and the solder ball and to aim at improvement of reliability of the BGA.

Abstract: The semiconductor device concerning the present invention has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip, under-filling resin, a reinforcement ring, a heat spreader, a power supply pattern and a wiring layer under surface via land which are formed on the wiring substrate and spaced out by a clearance region, an insulating film, a wiring layer via land, a via, and a wiring which is formed on the insulating film, passes over the clearance region, and connects the wiring layer via land to the semiconductor chip. The wiring layer via land is formed between the semiconductor chip and the reinforcement ring, and within a region of a 1 mm width from the extension line of the diagonal line of the semiconductor chip. The angle of the lead-out direction of the wiring from a wiring layer via land to the extension line of the diagonal line of the semiconductor chip is 20° or more.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a face detector configured to provide a face detection process based on image data obtained from an image pickup optical system that includes a focus lens configured to provide a focus control, a focus lens position extractor configured to extract a focus lens position at which the face detector has actually provided a successful face detection process from among focus lens positions set as a candidate position for the focus lens to be arranged when the face detector provides the face detection process, a focus control range setting part configured to set a focus control range in a focus range that contains the focus lens position extracted by the focus lens position extractor, and an autofocus controller configured to provide autofocus control in the focus control range set by the focus control range setting part.

Abstract: The semiconductor device concerning the present invention has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip, under-filling resin, a reinforcement ring, a heat spreader, a power supply pattern and a wiring layer under surface via land which are formed on the wiring substrate and spaced out by a clearance region, an insulating film, a wiring layer via land, a via, and a wiring which is formed on the insulating film, passes over the clearance region, and connects the wiring layer via land to the semiconductor chip. The wiring layer via land is formed between the semiconductor chip and the reinforcement ring, and within a region of a 1 mm width from the extension line of the diagonal line of the semiconductor chip. The angle of the lead-out direction of the wiring from a wiring layer via land to the extension line of the diagonal line of the semiconductor chip is 20° or more.

Abstract: The arrangement of focus-detecting sensors for autofocus in multipoint range finding and the arrangement of light detection sensors for focus detecting regions are optimized. Further, the chip area and power consumption are reduced. Light detection sensors are provided on the sensor chip in a manner such as to be disposed between focus-detecting sensors provided on the same sensor chip.

Abstract: A shutter device includes a first light-blocking unit; a second light-blocking unit; a supporting member; and a charging member. The shutter device has a simple structure that does not require a designated interlocking mechanism between the shutter device and an external unit, and that allows the second light-blocking unit to be maintained in a state where a shutter aperture portion is open without having to hold the second light-blocking unit electrically. The supporting member is protrudable into a movement path of the second light-blocking unit to maintain the second light-blocking unit in a state where the shutter aperture portion is open. The supporting member protrudes into or recedes from the movement path of the second light-blocking unit in response to a movement of the charging member, which is provided for charging the first and second light-blocking units.

Abstract: A camera, in which it is possible to adjust the position of two mirrors easily for striking a balance between the focus detection performances in an optical viewfinder state and an electronic image display state. The optical apparatus includes a first mirror movable between a first position for an optical viewfinder and a second position for focus detection, a second mirror movable between a third position for focus detection and a fourth position where a light flux is not led to the second mirror, a first positioning member for positioning the first mirror at the second position, and a second positioning member for positioning the second mirror at the third position. The second positioning member is a member independent of the first positioning member.

Abstract: A shutter device includes a first light-blocking unit; a second light-blocking unit; a supporting member; and a charging member. The shutter device has a simple structure that does not require a designated interlocking mechanism between the shutter device and an external unit, and that allows the second light-blocking unit to be maintained in a state where a shutter aperture portion is open without having to hold the second light-blocking unit electrically. The supporting member is protrudable into a movement path of the second light-blocking unit to maintain the second light-blocking unit in a state where the shutter aperture portion is open. The supporting member protrudes into or recedes from the movement path of the second light-blocking unit in response to a movement of the charging member, which is provided for charging the first and second light-blocking units.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed, in which it is possible to adjust the position of two mirrors easily for striking a balance between the focus detection performances in an optical viewfinder state and an electronic image display state. The optical apparatus includes a first mirror movable between a first position for an optical viewfinder and a second position for focus detection, a second mirror movable between a third position for focus detection and a fourth position where a light flux is not led to the second mirror, a first positioning member for positioning the first mirror at the second position, and a second positioning member for positioning the second mirror at the third position. The second positioning member is a member independent of the first positioning member.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, a semiconductor element is bonded to an insulating circuit board. A resin layer for bonding the semiconductor element to the insulating circuit board is extended so as to become greater in size than the semiconductor element. Further, the surroundings of the semiconductor element are sealed with resin. Reliability of mounting is improved by alleviating stress developing in a solder joint of the external electrodes of the circuit board.

Abstract: In an advanced-cruise-assist highway system, an AHS center facility, which is an upper facility for on-road facilities, periodically receives diagnostic information from the on-road facilities, and when it is determined that any on-road facility is in the faulty state, communicates the information that the on-road facility is in the faulty state to on-road facilities upstream from the faulty on-road facility, and the on-road facilities having received the information on the fault in the downstream on-road facility communicates the information that the downstream on-road facility is in the faulty state via a road-to-vehicle communication facility to AHS vehicles having the possibility of entering a zone under control by the faulty on-road facility. Further the information that the downstream on-road facility is in the faulty state is displayed on information board which can be recognize by vehicles having the possibility of entering a zone under control by the faulty on-road facility.

Abstract: A device for determining an amount of focus adjustment for an image-forming optical system which forms an image on a predetermined image plane includes a sensor, an image-re-forming optical system which re-forms the image on the sensor, and a reference member disposed at a position close to the predetermined image plane of the image-forming optical system. The projection image of the reference member is detected by the sensor, and a correction calculation is performed on the basis of the displacement of the projection image of the reference member from a preset position, so that errors in detection results caused by temperature variation, etc., are corrected.

Abstract: A device for determining an amount of focus adjustment for an image-forming optical system which forms an image on a predetermined image plane includes a sensor, an image-re-forming optical system which re-forms the image on the sensor, and a reference member disposed at a position close to the predetermined image plane of the image-forming optical system. The projection image of the reference member is detected by the sensor, and a correction calculation is performed on the basis of the displacement of the projection image of the reference member from a preset position, so that errors in detection results caused by temperature variation, etc., are corrected.

Abstract: In an advanced-cruise-assist highway system, an AHS center facility, which is an upper facility for on-road facilities, periodically receives diagnostic information from the on-road facilities, and when it is determined that any on-road facility is in the faulty state, communicates the information that the on-road facility is in the faulty state to on-road facilities upstream from the faulty on-road facility, and the on-road facilities having received the information on the fault in the downstream on-road facility communicates the information that the downstream on-road facility is in the faulty state via a road-to-vehicle communication facility to AHS vehicles having the possibility of entering a zone under control by the faulty on-road facility. Further the information that the downstream on-road facility is in the faulty state is displayed on information board which can be recognize by vehicles having the possibility of entering a zone under control by the faulty on-road facility.

Abstract: A lower semiconductor element is mounted facing down on an insulating circuit board, and an upper semiconductor element is stacked facing up on the lower semiconductor element. Openings are provided in the insulating circuit board at a location facing the element electrodes of the lower semiconductor element, and the element electrodes of the lower semiconductor element are connected to the board electrodes on the lower surface of the insulating circuit board through the openings. Also, the element electrodes of the upper semiconductor element are connected to the board electrodes on the upper surface of the insulating circuit board. Thus, a high-density semiconductor device is provided by stacking a plurality of semiconductor elements.

Abstract: A focus detecting device having a focus detecting sensor, a first holding member which holds the focus detecting sensor and a second holding member which holds at least an optical element is arranged to permit adjustment of a joint angle between the first holding member and the second holding member in the directions of a plurality of axes by forming, into a curved surface shape, at least one of a joint surface formed on the first holding member for joining with the second holding member and a joint surface formed on the second holding member for joining with the first holding member.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a detecting device for detecting position information, and a recording device for recording the detected position information on an image recording medium, wherein the recording device also records hierarchy information relative to the position information on the image recording medium.