Abstract: A zoom lens barrel containing a support member for supporting a vibration compensation lens and a vibration compensation drive unit thereof. The support member is held inside the lens barrel so that it is moveable in the direction of the optical axis. The support member is formed from a mold, with the molded support member including multiple gear shafts and cam followers. The multiple gear shafts are positioned on the molded support member in a row and in a direction which is perpendicular to the optical axis. The cam followers are positioned on the support member in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The multiple shafts are positioned on the support member at different angles from the cam followers so that the respective die extraction angles are different. The multiple gear shafts support a gear train which is positioned near an interior surface of the lens barrel.

Abstract: A camera has a light shielding member surrounding an axially movable lens housing arranged to project through a circular opening in a camera housing. The light shielding member has an annular disc portion with an inner peripheral grooved surface frictionally engaging an outer cylindrical surface of the lens housing. The disc portion is positioned between a transverse inner surface of the camera housing cover and a surface of a helicoid member. At its outer periphery, the light shielding member has a generally cylindrical flange that projects axially between a longitudinal inner surface of the camera housing and the helicoid.

Abstract: A camera having a hand tremor correction mechanism with improved positioning of the hand tremor correction mechanism. The camera includes a photographic lens which moves along the optical axis of the photographic optical system. A vibration detection unit detects camera vibration, such as from hand tremor, and produces a corresponding output signal. A vibration correction mechanism, coupled to the external periphery of the photographic lens and electrically connected to the vibration detection unit via a flexible printed circuit board, receives the output signal of the vibration detection unit and compensates for the vibration detected by the vibration detection unit.

Abstract: A device for varying the focal length of a phototaking optical system comprises a cam member having a cam portion, a guide member having a guide portion, a driven member provided in a part of the phototaking optical system and maintained in contact with the cam portion and the guide portion, and a drive unit for moving the driven member in response to a relative movement of the cam member and the guide member, thereby continuously varying the total length of the phototaking optical system between a telephoto end position and a wide angle end position, wherein the cam member is formed by molding of a resinous material in such a manner that a parting line formed in the cam portion is not contacted by the driven member at the telephoto end position and at the wide angle end position.

Abstract: A shake preventing apparatus comprises a shaking sensor for detecting a shake, a shaking preventive optical system for preventing an image shake by this optical system being shifted in a direction substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of a principal optical system, motors for driving this shaking preventive optical system to prevent the shake detected by the shaking sensor, photo interrupters for detecting a shift position of the shaking preventive optical system and a control circuit for controlling the motors on the basis of detection signals from the photo interrupters. The photo interrupters are disposed within a range so as not to exceed a thickness of the shaking preventive optical system in an optical-axis direction.

Abstract: A camera with a built-in flash unit, provided with a flash emitting portion, includes a red-eye reducing lamp positioned close to the flash emitting portion, and a Fresnel lens positioned in front of the flash emitting portion and the red-eye reducing lamp. Furthermore, the camera includes a protruding portion, which is positioned close to the flash emitting portion and the red-eye reducing lamp and is adapted to be contacted by the finger of the camera-holding hand. Owing to such contact, the photographer is warned as to the improper positioning of his finger, so that the flash emitting portion and the red-eye reducing lamp can be protected from being carelessly covered during the phototaking operation.

Abstract: A camera having improvements in (a) the placement of anti-vibration sensors, (b) the connection between components of an anti-vibration mechanism, (c) the connection between the anti-vibration mechanism and external testing devices and (d) the connection of the camera to a tripod. The camera body has first and second ends and a photographic lens which is positioned on the camera body between the first end and the second end. A battery compartment, first and second anti-vibrations sensors and a main capacitor are all positioned in the first end of the camera body. The first anti-vibration sensor is positioned between the battery compartment and the photographic lens. The first and second anti-vibration sensors reside on the same sensor card and the sensor card has a connector mounted thereon. An anti-vibration CPU resides on a separate, flexible printed circuit card and is connected to the anti-vibration sensors by inserting a portion of the flexible printed circuit card into the connector on the sensor card.

Abstract: A camera has a lens protection barrier member and an opening/closing mechanism that includes a cam and a spring member, the force of which varies. The cam is designed so as to compensate for the variation of spring force and maintain a uniform operating load.

Abstract: A camera including a viewfinder having an objective lens with a first optical axis, and an eyepiece lens with a second optical axis. The objective lens and the eyepiece lens create an offset space in the camera because the lenses are located such that their optical axes differ. Components within the camera are mounted on a printed board positioned adjacent to the viewfinder such that the electrical components are located in the offset space. The camera is smaller in size because the space due to the offset portion of the viewfinder is efficiently utilized.

Abstract: This camera includes a viewfinder and a device (4) for detecting the visual line of a photographer looking through the viewfinder, an operation member (1), (8) such as a release button which is operated by the photographer to take a photograph, a means (2) for inputting calibration information, and a means for performing photography (5), (6), (7). The calibration information input means (2) operates in response to the operation of the operation member (1), (8), and inputs and stores calibration information when the photographer fixates on a target mark (3, b) visible within the viewfinder, based upon the visual line detected at that time by the visual line detection means (4). The object intended by the photographer to be photographed is detected and photographs it, based upon the visual line detected by the visual line detection means (4) and the stored calibration information.

Abstract: A vibration compensation mode selection apparatus and associated visual display for a camera which allows a photographer to enable or disable a vibration compensation unit while receiving visual feedback regarding the operation state of the vibration compensation unit and information regarding the vibrations detected within the camera. A vibration detection unit is provided to output a signal indicating the amount and direction of vibrations experienced by the camera. A vibration compensation unit drives the vibration compensation lens perpendicular to the optical axis of a photographic lens system to correct for the vibrations detected by the vibration detection unit. A button is provided on the front face of the camera to enable the photographer to disable the vibration compensation unit by pressing the button. A display unit is provided to indicate to the photographer whether the vibration compensation system has been enabled or disabled.

Abstract: A vehicle collision detecting apparatus is provided which includes a casing having an opening, a base support member fitted into the opening of the casing to retain a movable contact and a stationary contact, a mass member biased by a spring in a first direction along a given path of travel defined in the casing to urge the movable contact into constant disengagement from the stationary contact, and a stopper member formed on the base support member to restrict movement of the mass member in the first direction urged by the spring to hold the movable contact at a given contact gap away from the stationary contact. The mass member is responsive to acceleration caused by impact acting on the apparatus to move in a second direction opposite the first direction against a spring force exerted by the spring to engage the movable contact with the stationary contact to provide a signal indicative of occurrence of a vehicle collision.

Abstract: A lens barrel of a camera has a stationary cylinder and a rotary cylinder which is advanced and retracted relative to the stationary cylinder while it is rotated.A plurality of helical gears as well as a helicoid are formed, along the helicoid, on an outer periphery of the rotary cylinder which is helicoid-coupled to the stationary cylinder and advanced and retracted along the optical axis while it is rotated. A plurality of drive gears which are gear-coupled to the helical gears are formed on the stationary cylinder. At least one of the plurality of drive gears is gear-coupled to the helical gears in a rotation range of the rotary cylinder.

Abstract: A camera having a photographic optical system contained in a lens barrel including a zoom cam tube and a collapsible mount cam tube. The zoom cam tube is movable in a focal length adjustment region between a Tele position and a Wide position, while the collapsible mount cam tube is movable in a collapsible mount movement region between the Wide position and a fully collapsed position. During focal length adjustment action, a gear which transmits a drive force of a motor is in engagement with a first rack on the zoom cam tube, and only the zoom cam tube rotates. Due to this rotation, a cam portion is rotated via other gears meshed with the first rack, and a pair of viewfinder lenses and a light generating unit, are made movable. During collapsible mount action, the gear is in engagement with a second rack, only the collapsible mount cam tube is rotated, and the drive force of the motor is not transmitted to the cam portion.

Abstract: This camera includes a viewfinder and a device (4) for detecting the visual line of a photographer looking through the viewfinder, an operation member (1), (8) such as a release button which is operated by the photographer to take a photograph, a means (2) for inputting calibration information, and a means for performing photography (5), (6), (7). The calibration information input means (2) operates in response to the operation of the operation member (1), (8), and inputs and stores calibration information when the photographer fixates on a target mark (3, b) visible within the viewfinder, based upon the visual line detected at that time by the visual line detection means (4). The object intended by the photographer to be photographed is detected and photographs it, based upon the visual line detected by the visual line detection means (4) and the stored calibration information.

Abstract: A shake-prevention mechanism is positioned on a support unit that supports the shake-prevention optical system. A single flexible printed circuit board having connection ends that connect to the various electrical connections is used as the wiring device to interconnect to the various electrical connections in the mechanism in addition to connecting the mechanism to external devices. The connection ends of the flexible printed circuit board are mounted to pinch and/or surround the support unit containing the drive mechanism from the front and back in the direction of the optical axis. Additionally, a base plate and a cover unit are positioned to have a spacing in between, together forming a support unit for supporting a shake-prevention optical system that is part of the shooting lens system. One photo-interrupter is fixed to the base plate that supports the motor, while another photo-interrupter is fixed to the cover unit that presses the motor and is a unit separate from the base plate.

Abstract: A camera having improvements in (a) the placement of anti-vibration sensors, (b) the connection between components of an anti-vibration mechanism, (c) the connection between the anti-vibration mechanism and external testing devices and (d) the connection of the camera to a tripod. The camera body has first and second ends and a photographic lens which is positioned on the camera body between the first end and the second end. A battery compartment, first and second anti-vibrations sensors and a main capacitor are all positioned in the first end of the camera body. The first anti-vibration sensor is positioned between the battery compartment and the photographic lens. The first and second anti-vibration sensors reside on the same sensor card and the sensor card has a connector mounted thereon. An anti-vibration CPU resides on a separate, flexible printed circuit card and is connected to the anti-vibration sensors by inserting a potion of the flexible printed circuit card into the connector on the sensor card.

Abstract: A magnetic head for sliding on a recording medium for executing magnetic recording or magnetic reproducing of information includes a magnetic core having a recording/reproducing magnetic gap whose track width is defined narrow in accordance with high-ranking high track density, and an erasing magnetic gap which is disposed upstream of a medium-sliding direction, in such a manner that the erasing magnetic gap is adjacent to the recording/reproducing gap, and whose track width is defined wide in accordance with low-ranking low track density. A center of the recording/reproducing magnetic gap in a direction perpendicular to the track is shifted by a predetermined amount of shift in the direction perpendicular to the track with respect to a center of the erasing magnetic gap in the direction perpendicular to the track.

Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may to occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a magnetic core having a slidable contact surface and a side face, a coil bobbin arranged around the magnetic core, a coil wound around the coil bobbin, and a slider having a notch and connected to the side face of the magnetic core. The slider together with the magnetic core are in slidable contact with a magnetic recording medium. A plurality of terminals, each of which is connected to an end of the coil, and a terminal holding member for holding the plurality of terminals are provided. The terminal holding member is disposed substantially within a space defined by the notch and is separated from the coil bobbin.