Abstract: An operation apparatus that enables selection of a required menu item from a plurality of menu items without several pushes of operation keys, and an electronic device that is equipped with the operation apparatus. When a fingertip is moved while protrusion portions of an operation apparatus are being touched with the fingertip, this is detected by an electrostatic capacitance-type sensor, and a selection frame for selecting a menu item is moved horizontally/vertically. Then, when the selection frame reaches a required menu item, the menu item is selected. Thus, it is possible to select a required menu item from a plurality of menu items just by moving a finger while touching the protrusion portion, without several pushes of operation keys.

Abstract: A container unit (27) of an electronic camera is composed of a loading lid (35) and a slot forming surface (32) in which slots (33a, 33b) are formed. The loading lid is rotatably and slidably attached to a shaft support member (39), which is disposed on the slot forming surface, via a lid attachment shaft (38). The loading lid is provided with a claw (40). A torsion spring (42) is secured to the lid attachment shaft. The slot forming surface is provided with a frame (41) and a block-shaped protrusion (43). The torsion spring engages with the protrusion to click and lock the loading lid at a lock position where the claw engages with the frame. Upon sliding the loading lid to a lock release position where the claw is disengaged from the frame, the loading lid is automatically rotated to an open position owing to the torsion spring.

Abstract: A slide type input device is provided, which can be made thin and which has the operability of a dial type input device. An input member that simulates a portion of the shape of recesses and protrusions of a dial member is provided in a slot so as to be slidable therein. The lateral edges of the slot are lower than the ends thereof. The input member is urged to a central position by elastic members, and is capable of repeated reciprocal motion.

Abstract: A cable holder is provided with an attachment portion to be attached to a strap retainer of a portable device, and a holder plate portion having a plurality of supporting projections. The attachment portion is provided with at least one claw to engage with the strap retainer. The claw elastically deforms for attaching/detaching the cable holder. A cable hole for inserting the cable is formed between two contiguous supporting projections. The cable is threaded in the cable hole between the supporting projections. With friction between the supporting projections and the cable, the cable is prevented from being unplugged.

Abstract: An operation apparatus that enables selection of a required menu item from a plurality of menu items without several pushes of operation keys, and an electronic device that is equipped with the operation apparatus. When a fingertip is moved while protrusion portions of an operation apparatus are being touched with the fingertip, this is detected by an electrostatic capacitance-type sensor, and a selection frame for selecting a menu item is moved horizontally/vertically. Then, when the selection frame reaches a required menu item, the menu item is selected. Thus, it is possible to select a required menu item from a plurality of menu items just by moving a finger while touching the protrusion portion, without several pushes of operation keys.

Abstract: The operating member is constructed by supporting the button members with the thin sheet member without integrally constructing the button members, and therefore, the device can be downsized and slimmed. The key tops of the button members can be individually surface-treated before assembly, and therefore, a user can easily recognize the kinds of buttons at the time of operation, and an operation mistake can be prevented.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the operating member is constructed by supporting the button members with the thin sheet member without integrally constructing the button members, and therefore, the device can be downsized and slimmed. According to the present invention, the key tops of the button members can be individually surface-treated before assembly, and therefore, a user can easily recognize the kinds of buttons at the time of operation, and an operation mistake can be prevented.

Abstract: A cable holder is provided with an attachment portion to be attached to a strap retainer of a portable device, and a holder plate portion having a plurality of supporting projections. The attachment portion is provided with at least one claw to engage with the strap retainer. The claw elastically deforms for attaching/detaching the cable holder. A cable hole for inserting the cable is formed between two contiguous supporting projections. The cable is threaded in the cable hole between the supporting projections. With friction between the supporting projections and the cable, the cable is prevented from being unplugged.

Abstract: A cradle for a digital camera. When a digital camera is set in a retainer of the cradle, side portions of a wall formed at the retainer are disposed to shield a charging terminal and a USB terminal formed at a lower portion of a side surface of a casing of the digital camera. Thus, a charging cord and a USB cord cannot be connected directly to the charging terminal and the USB terminal when the digital camera has been set in the digital camera cradle. That is, when the digital camera is set in the cradle, it is possible to prevent redundant connection of connecting cords to any ones of a plurality of connecting terminals formed in the digital camera that are of kinds the same as other connecting terminals of the digital camera, which others are connected to connecting terminals provided at the cradle.

Abstract: When the interior of an electronic camera is seen from the back of the camera, a storage medium chamber is located inside a grip part at the right part of a casing. A smart medium is inserted into and extracted from the storage medium chamber. An LCD is arranged at the left of the storage medium chamber, and the LCD and the storage medium chamber are arranged horizontally on a substrate. A metal shield member encloses the storage medium chamber. The shield member is integrated with a frame member that supports the LCD. The LCD is fixed to the substrate through the frame member. The frame member connects to a ground terminal of the substrate to thereby ground electronic circuits securely.

Abstract: A cradle for a digital camera. When a digital camera is set in a retainer of the cradle, side portions of a wall formed at the retainer are disposed to shield a charging terminal and a USB terminal formed at a lower portion of a side surface of a casing of the digital camera. Thus, a charging cord and a USB cord cannot be connected directly to the charging terminal and the USB terminal when the digital camera has been set in the digital camera cradle. That is, when the digital camera is set in the cradle, it is possible to prevent redundant connection of connecting cords to any ones of a plurality of connecting terminals formed in the digital camera that are of kinds the same as other connecting terminals of the digital camera, which others are connected to connecting terminals provided at the cradle.

Abstract: A lever member integrated with a barrier member is rotatably and tiltably supported about a pin which is equivalent to a rotary shaft of a gear member, and a pin secured to the gear member is loosely attached to the lever member. The movement of the tiltable barrier member is regulated by guide rails in contact with the reverse of the barrier member and guide rails formed at the reverse side of a front cover in such a way as to contact with the obverse of the barrier member. A lens peripheral part has a spherical surface whose center is on a lens optical axis. Each guide rail is formed along the spherical surface. A driving force of a motor is transmitted to the gear member to rotate and move the barrier member on the spherical surface to thereby withdraw the barrier member into a space (open position) beside the taking lens and behind the closed position.

Abstract: A battery holding device disposed in a battery case in a main body of a camera. In the battery holding device, there is provided a slidable and rotatable battery cover in a battery insertion opening in the battery case. The battery cover can remove the engagement of a battery by an engagement member in a position where the insertion opening is closed and also can open the battery insertion opening in a rotatable position.

Abstract: A plurality of buckets are fixedly provided on a different rotary body at predetermined angular intervals, and a disc-shaped recording medium is capable of being loaded into each bucket. A recording/playback position is situated at a predetermined angular position with respect to the rotary body, and drive units capable of freely approaching and separating from a bucket from upper and lower sides of the bucket are provided at the recording/playback position.