Abstract: A lens control device comprising a variator lens group for zooming, a focusing lens group for compensating for a change introduced into the focused position as a result of a zooming operation by the variator lens group, a conversion lens group for changing a focusable shifting area of the variator lens group from a first area to a second area, a computing circuit for determining driving information for driving the focusing lens group during the shifting of the variator lens group, based on focused position data, according to object distance, of the focusing lens group relative to the position of the variator lens group, and a control circuit for shifting the variator lens group from the first area to the second area in response to the mounting of the conversion lens group and for controlling a computing operation of the computing circuit so that a focused position of the focusing lens group is determined when the variator lens group moves within the second area.

Abstract: A lens control device comprising a variator lens group for zooming, a focusing lens group for compensating for a change introduced into the focused position as a result of a zooming operation by the variator lens group, a conversion lens group for changing a focusable shifting area of the variator lens group from a first area to a second area, a computing circuit for determining driving information for driving the focusing lens group during the shifting of the variator lens group, based on focused position data, according to object distance, of the focusing lens group relative to the position of the variator lens group, and a control circuit for shifting the variator lens group from the first area to the second area in response to the mounting of the conversion lens group and for controlling a computing operation of the computing circuit so that a focused position of the focusing lens group is determined when the variator lens group moves within the second area.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus divides a network conforming to the IEEE 1394-1995 Standard into a segment A and a segment B. and controls the relaying of an isochronous packet that has been transmitted from a node belonging to the segment A in accordance with the AV protocol. If an all-prohibition mode has been set, the communication control apparatus prohibits the relaying of an isochronous packet that has been transmitted from any one of the nodes belonging to the segment A. On the other hand, if the all-prohibition mode has not been set, the communication control apparatus prohibits the relaying of an isochronous packet that has been transmitted from a predetermined node belonging to the segment A in accordance with the AV protocol.

Abstract: A lens controlling apparatus includes a lens-driving stepping motor, a driving current forming circuit for forming a driving current waveform to be supplied to the stepping motor, an inputting circuit for inputting a stop instruction to stop the lens-driving stepping motor, a stopping circuit for performing the operation of stopping the stepping motor in accordance with the stop instruction, a phase detecting circuit for detecting the phase of the driving current waveform to be supplied to the stepping motor, and an inhibiting circuit for inhibiting the stop instruction from being executed except when the phase of the driving current waveform detected by the phase detecting circuit is a predetermined phase.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus for capturing a video signal from a predetermined range in an image pickup screen and performing an AF operation based on the signal, a setting position of the range is made variable in the image pickup screen, the range is arranged to be moved to a viewpoint position detected by a viewpoint detecting device, and the AF operation is inhibited for a predetermined time if the setting position of the range is changed. The AF operation is also inhibited if the position to which the range is moved is in a low-contrast state or if the position is for example a display position where characters are displayed.

Abstract: In order to provide an image processing apparatus and system, which can effectively use the functions of an interface and can fully use an image forming apparatus, an image processing apparatus of this invention, which is connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via an interface, includes an image output means for transmitting the image to be formed via the interface, an input means for inputting the image forming conditions, and a mode designation means for designating the image communication mode of the interface in accordance with the image forming conditions input by the input means.

Abstract: A video camera includes a gate circuit for extracting a sharpness signal relative to an area which is set in a portion of a picture, a focus adjusting device for performing focus adjustment on the basis of the sharpness signal relative to the area, and an area selecting circuit for controlling the gate circuit to vary the area in size and determining a size of the area during a driving of a variator lens in accordance with a size of the area and a focal length used before the driving of the variator lens.

Abstract: A video camera includes a gate circuit for extracting a sharpness signal relative to an area which is set in a portion of a picture, a focus adjusting device for performing focus adjustment on the basis of the sharpness signal relative to the area, and an area control circuit for controlling the gate circuit to vary the area in size and determining a size of the area in accordance with the magnification set by an electronic image magnifier which magnifies the image pickup signal from which the sharpness signal is extracted.

Abstract: A camera of the type having a lens drive motor for moving a focus lens, an image pick-up device for converting an optical image passed through the optical system including the focus lens into an image signal, a sampling circuit for sampling the high frequency component value of the image signal, and a control circuit for controlling the lens drive motor so as to maximize the high frequency component value. The camera has a high frequency component value memory for storing a history of the high frequency component value sampled by the sampling circuit. The control circuit controls the lens drive motor so as to maximize the high frequency component value after the focus adjustment, in accordance with the stored history of the high frequency component value.

Abstract: A video camera is provided with a detection circuit for detecting a state in which an interchangeable lens is mounted and a control circuit for stopping recording when the detection circuit detects that the interchangeable lens has not been mounted.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus which is provided with both a large-size image display monitor and an EVF of the type which is provided in a video camera or the like, the EVF is provided with a proximity-of-eye detecting circuit, and if proximity of an eye of a photographer is detected, the large-size image display monitor is turned off. However, if the large-size image display monitor faces the direction of a subject side, the large-size image display monitor remains on. Accordingly, power consumption is reduced, and a subject can visually confirm a photographed image even during photography. In addition, if the proximity of the eye of the photographer is detected, control of the image pickup apparatus based on an external (for example, wireless) control signal is inhibited.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus of the kind having both a still-image recording circuit and a moving-image recording circuit comprises: an optical system arranged to guide image pickup light from an object to an image sensor; a driving circuit arranged to drive the optical system; and a control circuit arranged to cause the still image recording circuit to automatically record at least two or more still images by varying the optical system for each of the still images in recording the still images by using the still-image recording circuit.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a storage circuit arranged to store information on a controlled target, a storage control circuit arranged to rewrite the information stored in the storage circuit or to add different information to the information stored in the storage circuit, a power-decreased state detecting circuit arranged to detect an output state of a power source battery, and a control circuit arranged to control actions of the storage circuit and the storage control circuit according to an output of the power-decreased state detecting circuit.

Abstract: A lens control device for an inner focus lens system has a first lens group for zooming; a second lens group for focusing; a first zooming unit for controlling the second lens group for correcting the displacement of the focal plane resulting from the movement of the first lens group; a memory for memorizing the relative position of the second lens group to the first lens group in a zooming operation by the first zooming unit; a calculation unit for calculating the moving speed of the second lens group based on the memorized data, in order to maintain the focused in the course of movement of the first lens group; and a second zooming unit for controlling the second lens group according to the result of calculation.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device in a camera system includes a focus detecting circuit for a focusing state of an object image formed on an image plane by a photographic lens, a control circuit for producing a control signal on the basis of an output of the focus detecting circuit and for outputting the control signal to the photographic lens to control the same, and a characteristic detecting circuit for detecting a predetermined optical characteristic of the photographic lens. The control circuit is arranged to transmit the control signal to the photographic lens by defining as a parameter a change of the optical characteristic detected by the characteristic detecting circuit.

Abstract: A video camera includes an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting into a video signal an optical image focused on a pickup surface of the device, a focus adjusting device for focusing the optical image on the image pickup surface, electronic magnification varying circuitry for electronically varying an image magnification by signal processing, and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the focus adjusting device in manners which differ depending on whether or not the image magnification is varied by the electronic magnification varying circuitry.

Abstract: A camera includes a vibration detecting sensor for detecting a vibration of the camera, a correcting device for correcting a shake of an image due to the vibration, a focus detecting circuit for detecting a state of focus by using information about the image, and a controlling circuit for controlling the correcting operation of the correcting device according to the state of focus detected by the focus detecting circuit.

Abstract: An optical system controlling apparatus includes a plurality of lenses for varying an optical characteristic, a plurality of driving parts for driving the plurality of lenses, respectively, a plurality of sensors for detecting the respective states of drive of the plurality of lenses, and a controlling circuit for driving each of the driving parts on the basis of detection information provided by the sensor and controlling each of the lenses during a steady state, the controlling circuit being capable of performing initialization for the respective lenses by parallel processing during an initial state before the steady state is established.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a diaphragm for an image sensing optical system, the aperture of the diaphragm being formed in a shape which is substantially asymmetrical in a horizontal or vertical direction, a in-focus detecting circuit for making a decision as to near focus state, in focus and far focus on the basis of a signal waveform which corresponds to an edge portion of a subject image passed through the diaphragm, and a driving circuit for performing focus adjustment of the image sensing optical system on the basis of an output of the in-focus detecting circuit.

Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus having a video camera part which produces a video signal by picking up an image of an object and is arranged in one unified body at least with a reproducing part which reproduces a video signal from a recording medium is arranged to selectively supply the video signal obtained by picking up the object's image or the reproduced video signal obtained from the recording medium to one and the same signal processing means. The disclosed arrangement not only permits simplification of the apparatus but also enables the apparatus to reproduce a high quality video signal.