Abstract: A camera capable of closing a barrier in accordance with need, even an interchangeable lens is mounted. The camera is provided with a connection portion, a barrier member and a barrier control section. The connection portion is detachably connected with the interchangeable lens and is provided with an aperture portion, which allows object light to pass therethrough. The barrier member is movably provided, in the state the interchangeable lens is connected with the connection portion, between a closed position, the barrier member closes off the aperture portion of the connection portion, and an open position, the barrier member is withdrawn from the light path. The barrier control section judges a state of mounting of the interchangeable lens to the connection portion, controls the barrier member to the closed position if the interchangeable lens is not mounted, and to the open position if mounted and a predetermined first condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A lens barrel unit includes gyro sensors that detect vibration. The gyro sensors are disposed around a CCD mounting portion within a range over which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of a photographic optical system. This positional arrangement allows the lens barrel unit to be provided as a compact retractable unit, and ultimately achieves miniaturization of the camera.

Abstract: A lens barrel unit includes gyro sensors that detect vibration. The gyro sensors are disposed around a CCD mounting portion within a range over which the lens barrel unit is projected along the optical axis of a photographic optical system. This positional arrangement allows the lens barrel unit to be provided as a compact retractable unit, and ultimately achieves miniaturization of the camera.

Abstract: A camera includes a shutter unit for limiting the exposure time to a record medium, a shutter time setting unit for setting the shutter time of the shutter unit, a shutter drive and control unit for driving and controlling the shutter unit, a shutter condition detecting unit for detecting the condition of the shutter unit, a manifesting unit for manifesting the result detected by the shutter condition detecting unit, a manifestation control unit for driving and controlling the manifesting unit and a memory unit for previously storing inherent data to detect with the shutter condition detecting unit whereby a photographer is informed of the fact that the detection accuracy of the detecting element is insufficient for a shutter time, thus dealing with the situation. The manifestation control unit drives the shutter condition detecting unit, based on a shutter time set by the shutter time setting unit and inherent data stored in the memory unit, thus notifying the shutter condition detecting unit of the result.

Abstract: A camera having a shutter instrumentation device for accurately measuring the actual shutter time. The camera includes a shutter which travels in a travel plane to open and close an aperture. A signal projection unit, positioned to one side of the travel plane, projects a signal towards the travel plane of the shutter so that the signal reflects off the shutter when the aperture is closed by the shutter and so that the signal passes through the aperture when the aperture is opened by the shutter. A reflecting member, positioned on the opposite side of the travel plane as the signal projection unit is positioned, reflects signals projected by the signal projection unit which pass through the aperture.

Abstract: A drive device includes a base and a driven member placed on the base. The driven member is capable of rotation on the base and has a circular surface following the direction of rotation. A roller member contacts the outside or inside of the circular surface of the driven member and is supported to be capable of rotation together with the driven member. A vibration actuator contacts the roller member and drives the roller member to rotate. A pressing member presses the vibration actuator in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the driven member. The pressing member presses the vibration actuator against the roller member, which in turn is pressed against the driven member.

Abstract: A camera which prevents accidents which could lead to damage to the shutter when performing shutter time tests in the opened state of the back cover of a camera. The camera has a shutter to limit the exposure time of the recording medium which has been loaded, a measurement unit to measure, according to the action of the shutter, the time of the exposure to the recording medium which the shutter performs, and a back cover sensor to detect whether the back cover is open or closed when film or another recording medium has been loaded into the camera. The action of the measurement unit is inhibited when the back cover sensor detects that the back cover is open. The camera also has a drive unit for recording an image on the film or recording medium and a mode selection switch to select between a normal mode in which a photographic action is performed, in which the shutter and the drive unit are activated, and a test mode in which the shutter and the measurement unit are activated but not the drive unit.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter device which, regardless of the number of times of operation, does not lose precision of operation. The shutter device has bend portions disposed in drive arms which drive shutter blades. The convex portions of the bend portions (ridge portions) face an adjacent shutter baseplate side. These bend portions reduce or eliminate friction as between caulking pins connecting blades to the drive arms, thereby increasing reliability.

Abstract: An extremely durable, super-high speed shutter with speeds of 1/8000 second or faster advantageously increases the blade acceptance rate, reduces the cost, prevents abnormalities such as light leaking between the curtains and the like, contributes to the implementation of a super-high speed shutter with speeds exceeding 1/8000 of a second, corresponding to TTL multi-pattern light adjustment, and the like. The shutter includes a front curtain and a rear curtain each including a plurality of dividing blades; and at least one of the dividing blades among the front curtain and the rear curtain that is positioned on the photo lens side is formed from a black material having at least one uncoated surface.

Abstract: A camera which can detect the actual opening/closing state of the camera shutter based on a signal reflected towards the shutter by a signal projection unit and received by a signal receiving unit. The signal received by the signal receiving unit is based on the reflectivity of the shutter and, therefore, the signal received by the signal receiving unit is different depending on whether or not the shutter is open or closed. The camera has a reflectivity state detection unit for determining the reflectivity status of the shutter. A reflectivity standard changing unit changes the detection standard of the signal receiving unit based on information output by the reflectivity state detection unit. In this manner, changes in reflectivity of the shutter, due to passage of time or increase in use, will not reduce the accuracy of the detection of the open/close status of the shutter.

Abstract: A shutter of a camera is provided with a shutter trip detecting device includes LEDs and PTRs. Measured are tripping timings of leading and trailing curtains for admitting and intercepting object light to an aperture. An exposure time on a film and a tripping time (curtain velocity) of each curtain are thus detected. The detected result is compared with a fiducial value, and an alarm is given according to the need. There are detected mechanical fluctuation elements relative to the shutter, e.g., a scatter of the exposure time on the film, a partial uneveness of the exposure time and an influence on the exposure time due to a fault in a driving mechanism. The alarm can be thus given to the user, and an automatic adjustment can be made. The shutter trip detecting device includes the shutter leading/trailing curtains, the LEDs and PTRs which detect tripping thereof.

Abstract: A camera lens shutter having separate aperture blades and shutter blades arranged in a manner to provide a shutter unit having decreased thickness. The lens shutter includes a first shading member to expose an exposure aperture when in an open state and to cover the exposure aperture when in a closed state. A first circular cam drives the primary shading member. A second shading member forms a plurality of aperture diameters, and a second circular cam drives the second shading member. The inner diameter of either the first or second cam is made larger than the outer diameter of the other. The lens shutter may also include a shading member to expose an exposure aperture wherein an open state, a first circular cam to drive the first shading member, a second shading member to cover or close the exposure aperture, a second circular cam to drive the second shading member, a third shading member to form a plurality of aperture diameters, and a third circular cam to drive the third shading member.

Abstract: A shutter device includes shutter blades, a flexible printed circuit board electrically connectable to a camera main body, a shutter base plate having an aperture, a shutter drive mechanism arranged in the vicinity of the aperture on the shutter base plate for driving the shutter blades, and electrical parts arranged in the vicinity of the aperture at one area other than the area of arrangement of the shutter drive mechanism. The flexible printed circuit board is connected to the shutter drive mechanism and the electrical parts and continuously arranged along the periphery of the aperture.

Abstract: A driving device for a piezoelectric actuator, in which a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric actuator to generate a mechanical deformation therein, thus actuating a mechanical system. In an aspect, the piezoelectric actuator is at first given a voltage of inverse polarity, for generating a displacement in an opposite direction, and then given a voltage of forward polarity, for generating a displacement in the normal functioning direction, thereby actuating the mechanical system. Displacement and acceleration become larger, as the displacement of the actuator takes place from a position in the inverse direction. In another aspect, the electrical insulation state of the piezoelectric actuator is detected and, if deteriorated, the destruction of insulation is prevented by an alarm generation and/or inhibition of voltage application in an embodiment, the insulation state is identified from the ambient humidity of the actuator.

Abstract: A durable brake mechanism comprises shutter blades; arms that support the shutter blades; drive pins, which are linked to the arms and cause the shutter blades to move by driving the arms; and brake levers, which contact the drive pins and apply a braking force against the motion of the drive pins. The brake levers have a hardness greater than a hardness of the drive pins that prevents damage to shutter blades and improves the durability of the shutter blades.

Abstract: A mechanism wherein the operation state of a shutter is detectable even with a diaphragm plate, without light shading blades being damaged, is disclosed. The mechanism includes a substrate, a cover plate, and a light blocking blade between the substrate and the cover plate. A diaphragm plate is between the light blocking blade and the substrate or the cover plate. A traveling state detection device uses detection holes to detect the traveling state of the light shading blade at a position corresponding to the traveling state detection device of the diaphragm plate.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter provides an extremely durable and reliable super-high speed shutter with speeds of greater than 1/8000 second which minimizes increases in the charge energy, has an increased rate of acceptance of the FRP and is economical to produce. The blades will not collide with or be damaged by the intermediate plate and the light shielding plate, even when the shutter is released while accelerating the camera in a direction virtually perpendicular to the direction of movement of the blades. The focal plane shutter includes a front and a rear blind that each include multiple dividing blades. The rigidity of the slit-forming blades having the largest amount of movement among the dividing blades differs between the front blind and the rear blind.

Abstract: In order to provide a durable and strong brake apparatus for a shutter, provision is made of a first shaft, a first brake mechanism rotatably fitted on the first shaft, a second shaft disposed at a predetermined distance from the first shaft, a second brake mechanism rotatably fitted on the second shaft, and a connecting mechanism for connecting the first brake mechanism and the second brake mechanism together and operatively associating them integrally with each other.

Abstract: A camera including a shutter that regulates the exposure time of the recording medium, a shutter measuring device that measures the time during which the shutter exposes the recording medium, a discerning device that discerns whether or not the recording medium is an infrared sensitive medium, and a suppressing device that suppresses the action of the shutter measuring device when the discerning device discerns that the medium is the infrared sensitive medium. This structure prevents the accidental sensitization of infrared film in the camera. In an alternative arrangement, a controller controls the operation of the shutter measuring device in accordance with either the type of recording medium or a voltage amount supplied to the shutter measuring device.

Abstract: A friction member for a brake mechanism in a camera shutter is comprised of a layer-laminated body which is formed by laminating a plurality of resin layers each reinforced with carbon fibers aligned one-directionally in such a manner that the directions of the carbon fibers are crossing, for generating a frictional force to brake a member to be braked by coming in contact with the member to be braked. The thickness of the layer-laminated body is 50 .mu.m to 200 .mu.m, and the surface resin layer of the layer-laminated body contains 35 to 75 wt % of the carbon fiber.