Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus is arranged to use a first video signal which corresponds to an image sensed state of an object and is obtained by sensing the object's image and a second video signal which is reproduced from a record bearing medium; and to form and produce at least one picture plane portion of a third video signal which includes and has the first and second video signals mixed therein in a time sharing manner.

Abstract: A lens control device includes a variator lens for zooming, a focusing lens for compensating for a focus plane position change associated with the variator lens' movement, a conversion lens for modifying the focal length determined by the variator lens, a driver for driving the variator lens and the focusing lens, and a control circuit for changing a driving speed of the variator lens between when the conversion lens is mounted and when the conversion lens is not mounted.

Abstract: A video camera has a normal operation control mode in which a normal operation is allowed to be performed and a demonstration mode in which each of a plurality of functions of the video camera is sequentially executed for a predetermined period of time, and is arranged to permit switching between the normal operation control mode and the demonstration mode. When a visual-line detecting circuit, a switch mounted on an eyecup, a sensor composed of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, or the like, detects that the operator is viewing an electronic viewfinder during the demonstration mode, the demonstration mode is switched over to the normal operation control mode. The demonstration mode is resumed upon detection of detachment of the eye of the operator from the electronic viewfinder.

Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus is arranged to use a first video signal which corresponds to an image sensed state of an object and is obtained by sensing the object's image and a second video signal which is reproduced from a record bearing medium; and to form and produce at least one picture plane portion of a third video signal which includes and has the first and second video signals mixed therein in a time sharing manner.

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: 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: A camera system having a lens unit provided with an actuator for changing the state of an optical system by driving a driving part and a driving circuit which drives the actuator on the basis of a driving control instruction signal supplied in a given periodicity from a control circuit disposed on the side of a camera body. The lens unit is characterized in that the actuator driving timing of the driving circuit is arranged to differ from the timing at which the driving control instruction signal is supplied from the control circuit to the driving circuit.

Abstract: A selection apparatus including a display unit for indicating a plurality of displays on the same screen, a line-of-sight position detecting unit for detecting a line-of-sight position of an operator on the screen, and an input unit through which the operator inputs an instruction, the input unit operating without using a line of sight. The selection apparatus also includes a control unit. When the display unit displays all of the displays on the same screen in response to an instruction input through the input unit, and the line-of-sight position detecting unit detects the line-of-sight position on any of the displays, the control unit selects the display on which the line-of-sight position has been detected. The control unit differentiates a status of display of the selected display from those of the non-selected displays. The control unit then executes the contents of the selected display.

Abstract: A lens drive controlling apparatus includes a zooming lens, a focusing lens driven in follow-up relation to a movement of the zooming lens on the basis of a predetermined characteristic, a speed sensor for detecting a driving speed of the zooming lens, and a control circuit for determining a driving speed of the focusing lens on the basis of a detection result provided by the speed sensor.

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: A video camera apparatus having a plurality of functions including a select switch through which a mode for executing one of various functions is selected, an execute switch through which a particular mode selected through the select switch is executed, and a controller which controls the display of a representation of the selected mode on the electronic viewfinder before the execute switch is operated. Thereafter, when the execute switch is operated, the mode is entered. The controller may include a selection cancelling device for cancelling a previously selected function.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens unit for use in a camera system which is arranged to drive a motor in the interchangeable lens on the basis of a signal supplied from a camera body. The interchangeable lens unit is provided with a circuit for continuously transmitting a specific signal to the camera body for at least the time period required to absorb a backlash when the direction of running of the motor is reversed with respect to the preceding direction of running of the same.

Abstract: An optical system controlling apparatus includes an optical system for moving in a predetermined direction and varying an optical characteristic, a position sensor for detecting a position of the optical system which is in operation, and a controlling circuit for moving the optical system to a predetermined initial set position and resetting the position sensor when it is detected that the optical system has reached the initial set position, the controlling circuit varying a driving speed of the optical system before and after it is detected that the optical system has reached the initial set position.

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 photographing apparatus comprises a first lens group to variably change a magnification, a second lens group to perform a focus adjustment, a movement measuring sensor to measure a moving speed of the first lens group, a movement control circuit to move the second lens group at the moving speed according to a measurement value of the moving speed which is obtained from the movement measuring sensor and a speed change circuit to change the moving speed of the first lens group. The apparatus has a stop circuit for allowing the movement control circuit to stop the movement control of the second lens group according to the measurement value of the moving speed obtained from the movement measuring sensor when the moving speed derived from the movement measuring sensor is changed.

Abstract: A lens control device for performing focusing during lens initialization includes an axially movable focusing lens, a lens position detector for detecting the position of the lens and a detector for detecting a focus state of the lens on an image pickup plane. The lens control device further includes an initializing circuit which effects an initialization of the lens position detector, a memory circuit which stores the position of the lens at the detection of a focused state on the image pickup plane by the detector during the functioning of the initializing circuit and a control circuit which moves the lens to the position stored in the memory circuit at the completion of the initialization.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first motor arranged to vary a magnifying power, a second motor arranged to make compensation when the first lens moves and also to adjust focus, a first motor arranged to move the first lens in the direction of an optical axis, a stepping motor being arranged as the first motor, a second motor arranged to move the second lens in the direction of the optical axis, a detecting part arranged to detect the position of the first lens on the basis of the number of driving pulse steps of the first motor, a memory circuit arranged to store information on adequate second lens moving positions in relation to specific moving positions of the first lens, and a control circuit arranged to control a driving action of the second motor on the basis of information, on the position of the first lens detected by the detecting part and the information on the adequate moving position of the second lens.

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 is capable of performing initialization for the respective lenses by parallel processing during an initial state before the steady state is established.

Abstract: A camera system having a lens unit provided with an actuator for changing the state of an optical system by driving a driving part and a driving circuit which drives the actuator on the basis of a driving control instruction signal supplied in a given periodicity from a control circuit disposed on the side of a camera body. The lens unit is characterized in that the actuator driving timing of the driving circuit is arranged to differ from the timing at which the driving control instruction signal is supplied from the control circuit to the driving circuit.

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.