Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus provided with an auto-focus capability. A first unit is configured to input a first trigger signal to initiate a distance measuring operation. A second unit is configured to input a second trigger signal to initiate a photographing operation. A setting unit is configured to set a substrate bias voltage applied to an imaging device included in the image-pickup apparatus. The setting unit is configured to set the substrate bias voltage one of during and after an auto-focus operation when the second trigger signal is input before expiration of a predetermined period of time after inputting the first trigger signal.

Abstract: A digital still camera having a photographing lens system set in a lens tube, a CCD solid image-capturing device, and a mechanical shutter. The mechanical shutter is set on a light path between the photographing lens system and the CCD solid image capturing device. The CCD solid image-capturing device divides a frame of an image into a plurality of fields and transmits the fields serially. The camera compares at least two fields of them, and detects abnormality caused by, for example, abnormal operation of the mechanical shutter or light leakage of the lens body. The camera also displays or announces the abnormality to a user.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an optical lens unit of a photographic optical system; an imaging device for converting light received through the optical lens to electrical signals; a zooming device for changing a focal length of the photographic optical system; a zooming position detector for detecting a current zooming position; an A/D converter for converting analog image signals outputted from the imaging device to digital image signals; and a gradation sequence converter which converts a gradation sequence characteristic of the digital image signals by referring to a gradation sequence conversion table for converting the gradation sequence characteristic, wherein converting amounts of the gradation sequence conversion table are changed based on a current zooming position detected by the zooming position detector.

Abstract: An AF controlling unit (83) starts an outside light AF operation controlled by an outside AF unit (81) by a half-pressing of a shutter release button (61), and a change over between the outside AF operation and a CCDAF operation controlled by a CCDAF unit (82) is controlled corresponding to an elapsed time t (timer 84) from a starting of the operation of the outside light AF operation and a pressing condition (a detection of the half-pressing by a half-pressed detecting unit (62), the detection of a full-pressing by a full-pressed detecting unit (63) or a press-in releasing) of a shutter release button (61) after the starting of the outside light AF operation controlled by the outside AF unit (81) by the half-pressing of the shutter release button (61).

Abstract: The present invention includes an exposure period setup part (104-1) for generating a timing signal, an image pick up device control part (102) for controlling an operation of image pick up device (101), a timing part for measuring an elapsed time from the exposure period timing signal (104-3), and an imaging apparatus control part (104-3) for controlling the image pick up device control part and the exposure period setup part. The timing part (104-3) measures the elapsed time (t1) from the exposure period timing signal right after a release operation to the beginning of exposure setup operation by the exposure period setup part, and if a time (t2) from the measured elapsed time to the generation of the calculated next exposure period timing signal is equal or greater than a predetermined time, the imaging apparatus control part (104-3) shortens the time till the generation of the next exposure period timing signal from a regular exposure period.

Abstract: A filtration portion 11 constituting a filter element 3 is composed of a first filtration material 9 wound around the outer periphery of an inner tube 8 and a second filtration material 10 wound tightly around the outer peripheral surface of the first filtration material 9, and gas comprising oil mist is passed inside the filtration portion 11 from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface thereof. As a result, a filter with good oil mist separation efficiency can be provided in which oil mist can be trapped and caused to condensate into oil drops with the first filtration material 9 and the oil drops can be grown with the second filtration material 10 and separated from the gas.

Abstract: A digital camera (1) has an outside light AF and a contrast type AF which is capable of selecting either outside light AF or contrast type AF based on a command for an operation by a photographer, and has a photographing mode which carries out a focusing by the contrast type AF even when the outside light AF is selected by the command for the operation by the photographer.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device to photograph an object and to convert an image of the object into an electronic image signal, a feature detection device to conduct a feature detection for a white balance control in accordance with the image signal, a white balance control device to conduct the white balance control by using a result of the feature detection device, a zoom area selection device to select the zoom area of the image signal in accordance with the imaging device, a display device to display the image signal of the area selected by the zoom area selection device, and a feature detection area selection device for a selecting area to conduct the feature detection for the white balance control.

Abstract: A digital camera (1) has an outside light AF and a contrast type AF which is capable of selecting either outside light AF or contrast type AF based on a command for an operation by a photographer, and has a photographing mode which carries out a focusing by the contrast type AF even when the outside light AF is selected by the command for the operation by the photographer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photographing apparatus of interlace transferring type comprising:

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital still camera for facilitating selection of a result as most intended by a photographer from among one set of photographed image data photographed in autobracket (AB) photographing, and which makes a reproduction device reproduce to reflect the photographer's intention.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus in which release time lag is shortened by not performing focusing operation again, in the case that a focused state is maintained after the focusing operation is performed once and electric current is decreased to lengthen a battery life.

Abstract: There are provided an image memory which stores one image of a subject, an image fetch section which takes in an image from the image memory to another memory or register in a predetermined unit, a control section which takes charge of the overall control, a face characteristic storage section which stores a plurality of characteristics of a face, a recognition and judgment section which recognizes a face from the data from the image fetch section and the data from the face characteristic storage section and judges each portion, an edge detector which detects an edge detection value from the result data thereof, and an output section which outputs the final judgment result to the outside.

Abstract: A photographing object image adjusting apparatus including a plurality of adjusting operation devices corresponding to a plurality of object image adjusting modes, respectively, and an object image adjusting device. Each of the plurality of adjusting operation devices is configured such that an adjusting operation giving an instruction of object image adjusting is performed by being manipulated. The object image adjusting device is configured to adjust an image of an object imaged on an imaging surface of a photographing element in an object image adjusting mode of the plurality of object image adjusting modes corresponding to an adjusting operation device of the plurality of adjusting operation devices in which the adjusting operation giving the instruction of object image adjusting has been performed.

Abstract: A practically realizable semiconductor magnetic body having a flat-band structure is disclosed. The semiconductor magnetic body is formed by semiconductor quantum dots arranged on lattice points such that electrons can transfer between neighboring quantum dots and the electron energy band contains a flat-band structure, where each quantum dot is a structure in which electrons are confined inside a region which is surrounded by high energy potential regions, and the flat-band structure is a band structure in which energy dispersion of electrons has hardly any wave number dependency.

Abstract: A practically realizable semiconductor magnetic body having a flat-band structure is disclosed. The semiconductor magnetic body is formed by semiconductor quantum dots arranged on lattice points such that electrons can transfer between neighboring quantum dots and the electron energy band contains a flat-band structure, where each quantum dot is a structure in which electrons are confined inside a region which is surrounded by high energy potential regions, and the flat-band structure is a band structure in which energy dispersion of electrons has hardly any wave number dependency.

Abstract: An electro-dynamic shaker and a pendulum system which has a resonant frequency lower than the lower limit of the frequency band of ordinary floor vibrations are fixedly mounted on a base plate. The pendulum system comprises a pendulum, damper and a differential transformer for detecting the relative displacement between the pendulum and the output shaft of the shaker. The detected relative displacement is compared in a control device with an input signal, the difference obtained by the comparison being used as a negative feedback signal to correct the input signal to be fed to the shaker to thereby stably produce minute vibration.