Abstract: A motion compensation device for a photographic optical system having a motion compensation control axis selection unit to select an axis direction in which motion compensation control is conducted. The motion compensation device includes a photographic optical system, a motion compensation optical system, a motion detection device to detect movement of the optical axis of the photographic optical system causing image blurring, a motion compensation drive to shift the motion compensation optical system and an imaging surface relative to each other in a direction approximately perpendicular to the optical axis, and a motion compensation control unit to generate a motion compensation control signal for the motion compensation drive based on the output of the motion detection device.

Abstract: A motion compensation device which prevents excessive image motion during exposure due to an error in target drive speed of a motion compensation drive device. The motion compensation device includes a photographic optical system, a motion detection device to detect motion of the photographic optical system, and a motion compensation drive device to shift at least a portion of the photographic optical system and an imaging plane relative to each other. A motion compensation control unit generates a motion compensation control signal for the motion compensation drive based on the output of the motion detection device. A motion compensation drive stop device stops the motion compensation drive after a specified amount of time has passed since motion compensation control started, regardless of whether the motion compensation control unit is generating a motion compensation control signal to drive the motion compensation drive.

Abstract: A camera which compensates for vibrations to reduce image blur by shifting an image blur suppression lens. The image blur suppression lens is movable in directions perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera. An interrupter detects the position of the image blur suppression lens and produces a position detection signal having change points occurring to indicate the position of the image blur suppression lens. A timer produces a count value and a memory device stores the count value of the timer when a change point occurs in the position detection signal. A control device determines the displacement velocity of the image blur suppression lens from the count value stored in the memory device. In this manner, the accuracy and efficiency of the computation of the displacement velocity is improved.

Abstract: A vibration detection apparatus includes a vibration detector for detecting a vibration generated in a target detection object and outputting a detection result, and a one-chip microcomputer. The one-chip microcomputer incorporates an A/D converter having a resolution of at least 10 bits and causes the A/D converter to perform A/D conversion of an output from the vibration detector.

Abstract: In a camera having a function of correcting a shake, a value of angular velocity or of velocity output from a sensor for detecting the shake is differentiated twice to obtain the differential value of the angular acceleration or the acceleration. When the resultant differential value of the angular acceleration or the acceleration is equal to 0, the angular velocity or the velocity is considered to be equal to 0. According to the obtained angular velocity or the velocity, the velocity or the angular velocity of the sensor for detecting the shake is corrected.

Abstract: A vibration detection device has a vibration detector for detecting a vibration generated in a target detection object and outputting a signal corresponding to the vibration and a one-chip microcomputer. The one-chip microcomputer has an A/D converter, a plurality of A/D input terminals connected to an output terminal of said vibration detector, and a plurality of registers for storing A/D conversion results corresponding to the plurality of A/D input terminals.

Abstract: A lens barrel having a fixed cylinder for holding a photographic optical system, and a rotary cylinder surrounding the fixed cylinder which is provided with a fitting portion for holding the rotary cylinder rotatively, and also, a diametral portion whose diameter is smaller than this fitting portion. The lens barrel further having a printed-circuit board having electric components assembled thereon. This printed-circuit board is arranged on the aforesaid diametral portion of the fixed cylinder in the space formed between the inner circumference of the rotary cylinder and the diametral portion.

Abstract: In order to prevent noise effects from occurring in a detection signal line or in a control signal line, which are small signal lines of a camera, and which are wired close and/or parallel to drive signal lines, which carry a large current, a low impedance line is provided between the drive signal line and the detection signal line and/or the control signal line. The low impedance line can be, for example, a ground line or a power source line. The drive signal line can be, for example, a line that supplies relatively high driving current to a shutter mechanism, to a vibration prevention system (which drives a vibration prevention lens in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens system), and/or to an auto focus system (which drives a focus lens in a direction substantially parallel to the lens system optical axis).

Abstract: A camera-shake preventing device for preventing an image deflection due to a camera-shake by driving a part of an optical system on detecting the camera-shake, device being capable of restraining a futile consumption of a battery and previously confirming an effect to compensate the camera-shake.The device has a camera-shake detector, a computing unit, a camera-shake compensating lens, a lens driving unit and a compensating mode selecting unit. The camera-shake detector detects the camera-shake caused by a hand movement. The computing unit computes a proper camera-shake compensation quantity from the detected camera-shake. The camera-shake compensating lens is drivable for compensating the camera-shake. The lens driving unit drives the camera-shake compensating lens in such a direction as to cause no image deflection in accordance with the compensation quantity computed by the computing unit. The compensating mode selecting unit selects any one of camera-shake compensating modes, i.e.

Abstract: A camera, having a motion compensation device, permits the user to select one of two modes of operations using a selector switch. Partial depression of a shutter release button initiates exposure and auto-focus routines while complete depression actuates an exposure routine effecting a shutter release. A first mode of operation enables the motion compensation device and prevents or delays an exposure from being executed if a motion level of the camera is outside a maximum range of compensation. A second mode of operation permits an exposure to be executed regardless of whether the camera motion level is outside of the maximum range of compensation, thus allowing events to be rapidly photographed on-demand. A first embodiment of the first mode of operation calculates exposure and focus parameters and then repetitively monitors the motion level until the motion level is within the maximum range of compensation and the exposure is executed.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic exposure control apparatus of a camera, comprising: a winding-up device to wind up a film after completion of the photographing; an output device to output an exposure start signal with respect to completion of the winding-up operation of the film; an exposure determining device to determine an exposure control value in response to the exposure start signal; and an exposure control unit to execute the exposure control of the camera on the basis of the exposure control value determined, wherein the exposure control unit previously stores at least one or more first exposure control value before the first photographing and, when the second photographing is executed before a second exposure control value is determined in response to the first exposure start signal which is output with respect to the first winding-up operation after the first winding-up operation was completed, the exposure control unit executes the exposure control by the first exposure control value.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body, an interchangeable lens mountable on the camera body and outputting a discrimination signal, and an intermediate barrel mountable between the interchangeable lens and the camera body. The intermediate barrel has memory means storing therein a plurality of information data regarding the optical characteristic, selector means responsive to the discrimination signal to select one of the plurality of information data from among the plurality of information data, and output means for outputting an information signal conforming to the selected one of said plurality of information data to the camera body. The camera body effects a calculation process on the basis of the information signal.

Abstract: In a flash photographing system including a camera having a light output control circuit for producing a stop of light emission signal when a light intensity of an illumination light reflected by an object reaches a predetermined level and a start circuit to start activation of the light output control circuit in response to a start of light emission signal, and a flash device electrically connected to the camera and having a flash bulb for emitting the illumination light, the flash device comprises detection means for detecting electrical connection with the camera, start of light emission signal generating means responsive to the detection means for supplying the start of light emission signal to the start circuit of the camera in synchronism with the emission of the illumination light by the flash bulb, and light emission stop means for stopping the emission of the illumination light by the flash bulb in response to the stop of light emission signal from the light output control circuit of the camera.

Abstract: Flash photographing system comprises a camera and a flash unit, which are exchangeable data. The flash unit is provided with a control circuit transmitting a power source control signal to a camera when a power source switch of the camera is not turned on, thereby enabling data exchange between the camera and the flash unit.

Abstract: A control device for automatic focusing includes a low sharpness discriminating circuit for identifying a minimum contrast required for focus detecting function and a correlation zone discriminating circuit for determining whether an object is in or out of a correlation zone in the vicinity of the in-focus position. Output signals are supplied from the two discriminating circuits to a sequence control circuit for determining whether to continue or discontinue operation of a lens driving apparatus for driving the lens. A control device may further include a low brightness discriminating circuit the output signal of which is supplied to the sequence control circuit to immediately discontinue the operation of the lens driving apparatus when the low brightness discriminating circuit identifies a low brightness of the object, regardless of the results of other discriminations.

Abstract: A camera system for a single lens reflex camera of a view-finder interchangeable type of a construction, wherein the interchangeable view-finder provided with a focus detection device and having a battery for the focus detection device built in it is detachably mounted on the camera body provided with an exposure meter and having a battery for the exposure meter built in it, and a battery checking device is provided on each of the view-finder device and the camera body, whereby, when the battery in the camera body is used up, the operations of the exposure meter in the camera body and the focus detection in the view-finder device are stopped.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device for camera is so formed as to attain high precision and rapid automatic focusing even for those photographing lenses whose focal length is variable as in the case of zoom lens.

Abstract: A lens structure with an imaging optical system detachably mountable on a camera body having a focus detecting device capable of detecting the positional relationship between the image of an object formed by the imaging optical system and a predetermined plane and of producing a corresponding detection signal comprises means for adjusting the imaging optical system in response to the detection signal, terminal means to be electrically connected to the camera body upon mounting of the lens structure on the camera body and detecting means adapted to transmit, to the camera body, a first signal in a first state where the imaging optical system is focused to the object at infinite distance, or a second signal in a second state where the imaging optical system is focused to the object at a shortest distance, or a third signal in a third state other than said first or second state.

Abstract: A camera capable of automatic focusing operation includes a picture-taking lens, photoelectric detector elements for photoelectrically detecting the light from an object to be photographed, a picture-taking lens driving device for driving the picture-taking lens to the in-focus position on the basis of the output of the photoelectric detector elements, a drive blocking device for detecting that the object is unsuitable for automatic focusing operation, thereby blocking the driving of the picture-taking lens by the picture-taking lens driving device, information detecting apparatus for detecting the information of the object, a memory for storing the output of the information detecting apparatus when the object is unsuitable for automatic focusing operation, and a releasing device for comparing the output of the information detecting apparatus with the output of the memory and releasing said blocking by the drive blocking device when the two outputs differ from each other.

Abstract: A camera having alternately selectable shutter release priority and focus control priority modes of operation. In the shutter release priority mode, operation of an automatic focusing device is inhibited when the shutter is actuated, and the shutter may be released irrespective of whether the photographic image is in focus. In the focus control priority mode, the shutter cannot be released unless the image is in focus. When the camera is in the shutter release priority mode, photographs may be taken in rapid succession without regard for precise focusing.