Abstract: A drive controller is provided and controls the supply of driving pulses in such a way as to make an extension speed and a contraction speed along a direction of a piezoelectric element differ to cause the piezoelectric element to extend and contract, so as to move a lens, the drive controller including an AF evaluation value-measuring device for measuring an AF evaluation value in a driving direction of the lens, a return pulse number-calculating device for calculating a maximum value-presuming position so as to calculate a return pulse number, a reverse movement-control device for returning the lens in a reverse direction, a threshold calculating device for calculating an evaluation value threshold, a measurement and determination means for remeasuring the AF evaluation value and determining whether or not an AF re-evaluation value is equal to or larger than the evaluation value threshold, and an AF evaluation value remeasuring device for remeasuring an AF evaluation value in the reverse direction of the le

Abstract: The photo-detecting device includes a photodetector for detecting incident light, an input J FET for reading the sensing signal from the photodetector, an amplifier for amplifying the signal detected by the input J FET, a feed-back circuit for feeding the output of the amplifier back to the gate of the input J FET through a feed-back capacitor, a reset circuit for resetting the feed-back capacitor by discharging it with a reset MOS FET, and a circuit of a switch and resistor. The same level voltage as the gate voltage of the input J FET is applied to its source through a resistor, and the circuit of the switch and the resistor is connected between the source of the reset MOS FET and the feed-back capacitor. The reset MOS FET and switch are controlled so that the reset MOS FET is turned “on” and “off” while the switch is “on”.

Abstract: The photo-detecting device includes of a photodetector for detecting incident light, an input J FET for reading the sensing signal from the photodetector, an amplifier for amplifying the signal detected by the input J FET, a feed-back circuit for feeding the output of the amplifier back to the gate of the input J FET through a feed-back capacitor, a reset circuit for resetting the feed-back capacitor by discharging it with a reset MOS FET, and a circuit of a switch and resistor. The same level voltage as the gate voltage of the input J FET is applied to its source through a resistor, and the circuit of the switch and the resistor is connected between the source of the reset MOS FET and the feed-back capacitor. The reset MOS FET and switch are controlled so that the reset MOS FET is turned “on” and “off” while the switch is “on”.

Abstract: A driving control device 20 controls supply of driving pulses to expand and contract a piezoelectric element 12 so that an expansion rate is different from a contraction rate, to vibrate a driving rod 17 and move a lens 21 frictionally engaging with the driving rod 17 in two directions. The driving control device 20 includes an actual driving pulse number measuring unit 32 that measures actual driving pulse numbers, which are required to move the lens 21 by a predetermined movement amount in the two directions, before a focusing operation of the lens 21, a correction factor calculating unit 33 that calculates correction factors relating to a driving pulse number, based on the actual driving pulse numbers and a predetermined reference pulse number; and a driving pulse number correcting unit 34 that corrects a driving pulse number supplied to the piezoelectric element 12 based on the correction factors.

Abstract: A drive controller is provided and controls the supply of driving pulses in such a way as to make an extension speed and a contraction speed along a direction of a piezoelectric element differ to cause the piezoelectric element to extend and contract, so as to move a lens, the drive controller including an AF evaluation value-measuring device for measuring an AF evaluation value in a driving direction of the lens, a return pulse number-calculating device for calculating a maximum value-presuming position so as to calculate a return pulse number, a reverse movement-control device for returning the lens in a reverse direction, a threshold calculating device for calculating an evaluation value threshold, a measurement and determination means for remeasuring the AF evaluation value and determining whether or not an AF re-evaluation value is equal to or larger than the evaluation value threshold, and an AF evaluation value remeasuring device for remeasuring an AF evaluation value in the reverse direction of the le

Abstract: A driving control device 20 controls supply of driving pulses to expand and contract a piezoelectric element 12 so that an expansion rate is different from a contraction rate, to vibrate a driving rod 17 and move a lens 21 frictionally engaging with the driving rod 17 in two directions. The driving control device 20 includes an actual driving pulse number measuring unit 32 that measures actual driving pulse numbers, which are required to move the lens 21 by a predetermined movement amount in the two directions, before a focusing operation of the lens 21, a correction factor calculating unit 33 that calculates correction factors relating to a driving pulse number, based on the actual driving pulse numbers and a predetermined reference pulse number; and a driving pulse number correcting unit 34 that corrects a driving pulse number supplied to the piezoelectric element 12 based on the correction factors.

Abstract: A low-level light detector includes an avalanche photodiode (APD) to which is applied a bias voltage adjusted to produce a multiplication factor of not more than 30, and a capacitor for accumulating carriers produced by light in the APD and multiplied using the APD characteristics, the capacitor being connected to the avalanche photodiode. The detector detects the intensity of light impinging on the avalanche photodiode by periodically reading the capacitor voltage and obtaining time-based differences in the voltage, or by resetting the capacitor voltage to a predetermined voltage each time the capacitor voltage is read.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for manufacturing a circuit for photon number counting without destroying a FET within the circuit by manufacturing a photodetector for weak light, the photodetector for weak light comprising a circuit on a substrate, the circuit comprising light detection means and a field effect transistor (FET), the method comprising: a light detection means connection step; an FET electrode-to-substrate electrode connection step; an external electrode connection step, a light detection means-to-gate connection step.

Abstract: A low-level light detector includes an avalanche photodiode (APD) to which is applied a bias voltage adjusted to produce a multiplication factor of not more than 30, and a capacitor for accumulating carriers produced by light in the APD and multiplied using the APD characteristics, the capacitor being connected to the avalanche photodiode. The detector detects the intensity of light impinging on the avalanche photodiode by periodically reading the capacitor voltage and obtaining time-based differences in the voltage, or by resetting the capacitor voltage to a predetermined voltage each time the capacitor voltage is read.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can prevent noise from impurities, prevent electrodes from disconnecting from the substrate, and can be easily cooled; the present invention further provides a photodetector for weak light that can count the number of photons; the present invention solves the above problems by using an ultraviolet light transparent substrate on the photodetector for weak light.

Abstract: A low-level light detector includes an avalanche photodiode (APD) to which is applied a bias voltage adjusted to produce a multiplication factor of not more than 30, and a capacitor for accumulating carriers produced by light in the APD and multiplied using the APD characteristics, the capacitor being connected to the avalanche photodiode. The detector detects the intensity of light impinging on the avalanche photodiode by periodically reading the capacitor voltage and obtaining time-based differences in the voltage, or by resetting the capacitor voltage to a predetermined voltage each time the capacitor voltage is read.

Abstract: This invention provides a photodetector for weak light and a weak light detection system including the photodetector for weak light the photodetector for weak light is comprised of a substrate on which an integrating read circuit including a PIN photodiode or an APD and an FET is mounted, wherein the entire assembly is mounted while separating the substrate from a ground potential without grounding the substrate, such a photodetector for weak light can reduce noise and ensure a high enough sensitivity enough to be able to discriminate the number of photons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can release charge from the circuit without increasing capacity; the present invention being characterized by a photodetector for weak light that has a charge release means which permits the photodetector for weak light of the present invention to avoid increasing its capacity because it does not require a reset transistor integrated with the photodector, rather the charge reset means of the present invention lowers mounting capacity by removing itself from the circuit after it releases the charge.

Abstract: This invention provides a photodetector for weak light and a weak light detection system including the photodetector for weak light the photodetector for weak light is comprised of a substrate on which an integrating read circuit including a PIN photodiode or an APD and an FET is mounted, wherein the entire assembly is mounted while separating the substrate from a ground potential without grounding the substrate, such a photodetector for weak light can reduce noise and ensure a high enough sensitivity enough to be able to discriminate the number of photons.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for manufacturing a circuit for photon number counting without destroying a FET within the circuit by manufacturing a photodetector for weak light, the photodetector for weak light comprising a circuit on a substrate, the circuit comprising light detection means and a field effect transistor (FET), the method comprising: a light detection means connection step; an FET electrode-to-substrate electrode connection step; an external electrode connection step, a light detection means-to-gate connection step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can prevent noise from impurities, prevent electrodes from disconnecting from the substrate, and can be easily cooled; the present invention further provides a photodetector for weak light that can count the number of photons; the present invention solves the above problems by using an ultraviolet light transparent substrate on the photodetector for weak light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can release charge from the circuit without increasing capacity; the present invention being characterized by a photodetector for weak light that has a charge release means which permits the photodetector for weak light of the present invention to avoid increasing its capacity because it does not require a reset transistor integrated with the photodector, rather the charge reset means of the present invention lowers mounting capacity by removing itself from the circuit after it releases the charge.

Abstract: Modes of a camera are classified into groups according to their type. On an LCD panel, the different groups are displayed on different rows, and modes to be selected out of each group are displayed in different columns. Group selection is accomplished by vertically manipulating a selector button, and mode selection out of each group is accomplished by laterally manipulating the selector button. This makes possible displaying of selectable modes classified by group on the LCD panel in a way perceivable at a glance. Furthermore, the choice of a group and that of a mode within each group are matched in the mode display arrangement to facilitate the operation for mode selection.

Abstract: A camera system (electronic equipment system) includes a remote controller for transmitting a remote control signal containing a time data signal, and a camera for receiving the remote control signal to correct time information. The camera includes a remote control signal receiving circuit for receiving the remote control signal, a display for displaying and blinking for a predetermined time period represented by the time data signal contained in the remote control signal received by the remote control signal receiving circuit, and a correction unit for correcting time information based on the time data signal contained in the remote control signal received by the receiving circuit.

Abstract: The A camera system according to the present invention comprises includes a remote controller for transmitting a remote control signal consisting of including a command signal and a subsequent time data signal, and a camera for receiving the remote control signal for correcting time information, the. The camera determining determines whether it is to carry out a time correction or not, based on the basis of the state of the receipt of the command signal.