Abstract: An inquiry respondinq apparatus receives an inquiry and stores a response to the inquiry in a first database. The apparatus determines whether or not the first database can be searched for the response to the inquiry, and when it is determined that the first database can be searched for the response to the inquiry, and when it is determined that the first database can be searched, a search for the response is performed. However, when it is determined that the first database cannot be searched, the apparatus transmits the inquiry to an external information processing device, and the apparatus receives a response to the inquiry which is transmitted from the external information processing device. Then, one of the response obtained by searching the first database and the response received from the external device is displayed on a display.

Abstract: An inquiry responding apparatus includes a receiving means for receiving an inquiry, a first database for storing a response to the inquiry, a determining means for determining whether or not said first database can be searched for the response to the inquiry, a searching means for searching said first database for the response to the inquiry when the determining means determines that said first database can be searched, a transmitting means for transmitting the inquiry to an external information processing device when said determining means determines that said first database cannot be searched, a second receiving means for receiving a response to the inquiry which is transmitted from the external information processing device, a displaying means for displaying one of the response obtained by said searching means and the response received by the second receiving means.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body and a lens in which a motor circuit and an electric circuit are arranged and are supplied with electric power from a power source in the camera body. Ground contact terminals for the motor circuit and the electric circuit are separately arranged in the lens, and the motor circuit and the electric circuit are electrically connected to the power source negative terminal through the separate ground contact terminals.

Abstract: An optical accessory comprises a bayonet type mount which can be freely mounted by rotation to a camera body having a camera mount of a bayonet type, a switch related to a power source and an operating member for actuating the switch. The optical accessory mount has a mounting claw arranged for pushing the operating member, the length of said mounting claw being so set that the mounting claw pushes the operating member for actuating the switch when the mounting by rotation of the optical accessory to the camera body is almost completed.

Abstract: A mount device for an interchangeable lens having a bayonet type mount member capable, upon rotation relative to a mount member on a camera body, of coupling with or decoupling from the latter, and a plurality of electrical connection terminals arranged, upon completion of a coupling operation of both mount members, to contact with the equal number of electrical connection terminals on the camera body so that communication become possible between the lens and the camera body. The axial rear ends of the terminals on the lens project outwardly from the rear end surface of the mount member on the lens and the rear end surface of the rearmost lens.

Abstract: A delay mechanism for a single lens reflex camera including a release member for releasing the holding member of a leading shutter curtain and a speed lowering mechanism for lowering the speed of the operation of the release member, whereby when the release member is in a range in which holding action by the holding member is to be released, the speed lowering mechanism does not impart a speed lowering effect to the release member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single lens reflex camera which compresses a view finder mirror having a portion for allowing light passage therethrough, a movable support member supporting the mirror having a portion for allowing light passage therethrough, and first and a second light shielding member arranged upon retraction of the mirror from the picture taking optical path by the support to cooperate with each other to shut the light passage portion of the support member.

Abstract: A reflex mirror for reflecting light from an objective lens to a penta prism is provided with a light-permeable portion for conducting part of the light to behind the reflex mirror and with a shutter plate for shielding this light-permeable portion. When the reflex mirror reaches an exposing position after being moved from a viewing position, the shutter plate comes into engagement with a member and it takes a light-shielding position. This member is made adjustable in position, thereby enabling achievement of an accurate light-shielding position of the permeable portion by the shutter plate when the reflex mirror is in the exposing position.

Abstract: Object brightness information is measured and diaphragm aperture value is appex operated using the setting information of mounted lens and the photographing conditions an input to effect ON-OFF control of an automatic-manual change-over means. The change-over means is associated with the photographing mode change-over operation of a diaphragm setting means for displaying the photographing mode within a finder.

Abstract: An electromagnetically controlled shutter with a latch member held in an active position by an electromagnet containing a permanent magnet and operating upon de-magnetization of the electromagnet to release the shutter. To prevent reduction of the attractive force by the adhesion of dust, oil or the like to the attracting surface of the electromagnet and also to improve the ramping characteristics of the shutter, an arrangement is provided such that when the electromagnet is de-energized, the shutter latching member is pulled away from the electromagnet by a breakaway spring. Then the breakaway spring impels the shutter to run down in an early stage, and loses its impelling force. Soon after that, the shutter latching member is returned to the attracted position by an attracting spring.

Abstract: An in-focus state detecting device which is provided with erroneous signal discriminating means is arranged such that: The lens cap of a photo-taking lens has the whole surface or a part of the surface thereof formed into a diffuse transmission face. With this lens cap put on the photo-taking lens, a light flux is allowed to be diffused by the diffuse transmission face to obtain a uniform brightness face at the cap. Then, a light flux from the uniform brightness face of the cap is guided to the in-focus detecting device to perform a checking operation with the discriminating means to check for an erroneous action of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical element positioning method in which a positioning part for determining the positions of a plurality of optical elements is formed in an optical element carrying member to accurately determine the relative position of the optical elements and the positioning part is utilized to mount the optical elements on the carrying member, and an optical element assembly utilizing such method.

Abstract: A device which detects the focus condition of an optical system with respect to an object, includes a sensor having at least one sensing surface, the senor providing an electrical indication to associated circuitry corresponding to light which has passed through the optical system. A cleaning mechanism is operatively arranged with respect to the sensing surface of the sensor so as to keep the sensing surface clean, and thereby insure that the overall device operates properly to detect an in-focus condition of the optical system.

Abstract: A droppage in a power source voltage below a prescribed value is prevented by using an electro-magnetic device of low power consumption type in a single lens reflex camera, and at the same time when the power source voltage is lower than the prescribed value, an erroneous function prevent circuit is activated to make the control circuit of a camera electronically inoperative and an indication of warning is made.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single reflex camera with a photoelectric focus detecting device or a photoelectric converting element for receiving light from an object through a picture-taking lens. Light reflected by a photosensitive member or film during exposure thereof is directed to the photoelectric converting element. The picture-taking operation is detected or controlled in accordance with the output from the photoelectric converting element with respect to the light reflected from the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A flash illumination device is removably mounted on the body of an accompanying camera. Electric adjusting means set the diaphragm of the camera. A signal system produces a signal corresponding to a prescribed diaphragm setting and transfers the signal through a shoe attached to the camera body or through other electric connecting means. When the flash illumination device is connected to the camera body, the signal system provides an electrical signal which causes the adjusting means automatically to set the diaphragm.

Abstract: An interchangeable-lens camera is usable with a flash unit which stops the flash on the basis of the object distance and transmits a signal corresponding to a required aperture value. The camera includes a diaphragm control that responds to the light passing through the maximum aperture of the interchangeable lens and corrects for a particular maximum aperture. A selector causes the diaphragm control to respond either to the light or the signal transmitted by the flash and a switch aborts the maximum aperture connection during flash photography.

Abstract: A focus detecting system is disclosed which detects a focusing state of an imaging optical system with respect to an object on the basis of signals, of the image formed by the optical system, generated from three light-receiving sections which are disposed at positions substantially corresponding to points in front of, on and behind a predetermined focal plane of the optical system. A substantial range of detection of the light-receiving section among the three light-receiving sections which is disposed at a point substantially corresponding to the predetermined focal plane is limited to be narrower than those of the remaining two light-receiving sections.

Abstract: A battery accommodating device comprising a chamber configured to accommodate a plurality of cylindrical batteries in side-by-side relation, and a cover hinged to open and close an opening of the chamber. With the above-described cylindrical batteries loaded in the above-described chamber, there is a space surrounded by the side walls of the batteries and the inside wall of the chamber in which a lock member for holding the cover in the closed position is provided so as to be operable from the outside of the battery chamber.

Abstract: A single lens reflex camera having a main mirror with a coating which is partly light-permeable in at least a portion thereof, the main mirror being pivotable into and out of an operative position where the light entering through an objective lens is reflected to a focusing screen, while the part of the light which passes through the main mirror is reflected out of the photo-taking light path by an auxiliary mirror positioned separately from the main mirror, and further having an automatic diaphragm actuator for stopping down a diaphragm device in the objective lens mounting. In this camera, the main mirror, the auxiliary mirror and the automatic diaphragm actuator are driven with only one common drive member responsive to actuation of a camera release for driving the main and auxiliary mirrors to flip out of the way of the light to the film and for driving the automatic diaphragm actuator to perform the stopping down operation of the diaphragm device.