Abstract: An image capturing apparatus with an image sensor converting the image of a subject and an optical member in front of the image sensor. First and second piezoelectric elements at respective ends of the optical member are independently driven by respective first and second driving units. A detection unit has first and second detecting piezoelectric elements adjacent to the respective first and second piezoelectric elements for detecting vibration of the optical member. A first control unit controls the first and second driving units and the detection unit to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element drive circuit for outputting a signal that drives a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element drive circuit including: a frequency signal generation unit that outputs a frequency signal whose frequency is altered discretely; a voltage-controlled oscillator that alters the frequency of an output signal based on an inputted voltage; a phase comparator that compares the phase of the output signal from the frequency signal generation unit and the phase of the output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator; and a loop filter that inputs, into the voltage-controlled oscillator, an output voltage that is altered based on alterations in an output signal from the phase comparator. The output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator is the signal that drives the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A foreign substance removing apparatus that removes a foreign substance adhering on an optical member, comprising a piezoelectric element arranged at one end of the optical member, a transformer which generates a voltage to drive the piezoelectric element, the transformer including a primary-side wound wire and a secondary-side wound wire, the secondary-side wound wire being connected to the piezoelectric element, a first driving signal generation circuit which is connected to one end of the primary-side wound wire in the transformer, and generates a signal with a first frequency, and a second driving signal generation circuit which is connected to the other end of the primary-side wound wire in the transformer, and generates a signal with a second frequency.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus with an image sensor converting the image of a subject and an optical member in front of the image sensor. First and second piezoelectric elements at respective ends of the optical member are independently driven by respective first and second driving units. A detection unit has first and second detecting piezoelectric elements adjacent to the respective first and second piezoelectric elements for detecting vibration of the optical member. A first control unit controls the first and second driving units and the detection unit to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor adapted to opto-electronically convert the image of a subject; an optical member placed in front of the image sensor; first and second piezoelectric elements placed at respective ones of both ends of the optical member; first and second driving units adapted to independently vibrate the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively; a detection unit having first and second detecting piezoelectric elements placed adjacent to the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively, for detecting vibration of the optical member; and a first control unit adapted to control the first and second driving units and the detection unit so as to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezo

Abstract: A foreign substance removing apparatus that removes a foreign substance adhering on an optical member, comprising a piezoelectric element arranged at one end of the optical member, a transformer which generates a voltage to drive the piezoelectric element, the transformer including a primary-side wound wire and a secondary-side wound wire, the secondary-side wound wire being connected to the piezoelectric element, a first driving signal generation circuit which is connected to one end of the primary-side wound wire in the transformer, and generates a signal with a first frequency, and a second driving signal generation circuit which is connected to the other end of the primary-side wound wire in the transformer, and generates a signal with a second frequency.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element drive circuit for outputting a signal that drives a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element drive circuit including: a frequency signal generation unit that outputs a frequency signal whose frequency is altered discretely; a voltage-controlled oscillator that alters the frequency of an output signal based on an inputted voltage; a phase comparator that compares the phase of the output signal from the frequency signal generation unit and the phase of the output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator; and a loop filter that inputs, into the voltage-controlled oscillator, an output voltage that is altered based on alterations in an output signal from the phase comparator. The output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator is the signal that drives the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: The invention includes an image sensor, a shutter which opens/closes by making a front curtain and a rear curtain travel, a light source which illuminates the image sensor, a control unit which performs control to make the front and rear curtains travel with a predetermined time shift to form a slit-like opening, and to make the light source emit light a predetermined period of time after the start time of traveling of the front and rear curtains, a detection unit which detects the deviation between the position of an image of the recorded slit-like opening and a predetermined reference position, a computation unit which calculates the error between the traveling start timing of the front and rear curtains on the basis of the detected deviation, and a correction unit which corrects the calculated error between the traveling start timing of the front and rear curtains.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor adapted to opto-electronically convert the image of a subject; an optical member placed in front of the image sensor; first and second piezoelectric elements placed at respective ones of both ends of the optical member; first and second driving units adapted to independently vibrate the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively; a detection unit having first and second detecting piezoelectric elements placed adjacent to the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively, for detecting vibration of the optical member; and a first control unit adapted to control the first and second driving units and the detection unit so as to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezo

Abstract: The invention includes an image sensor, a shutter which opens/closes by making a front curtain and a rear curtain travel, a light source which illuminates the image sensor, a control unit which performs control to make the front and rear curtains travel with a predetermined time shift to form a slit-like opening, and to make the light source emit light a predetermined period of time after the start time of traveling of the front and rear curtains, a detection unit which detects the deviation between the position of an image of the recorded slit-like opening and a predetermined reference position, a computation unit which calculates the error between the traveling start timing of the front and rear curtains on the basis of the detected deviation, and a correction unit which corrects the calculated error between the traveling start timing of the front and rear curtains.

Abstract: In a focus detection apparatus, an accumulation-type sensor formed of a plurality of sensor cells accumulates an image signal, and a component of the image signal is read from each cell for a focus detection calculation. A signal is read from a part of the cells in the sensor, and it is determined from the signal whether an image signal has a low contrast. When it is determined that the image signal has a low contrast, reading signals from the other cells is disabled to omit unnecessary signal reading operations.

Abstract: A power circuit supplies a plurality of voltages to a display-device-driving circuit for time-division-driving a display device. Each of the plurality of voltages are output via a constant-voltage circuit constituted by a regulator for dividing a voltage supplied from a power source and keeping the divided voltages at a certain voltage level, whereby a stable power source consuming a small amount of power when supplying power to a driving circuit as a power source for a display device to be time-division-driven can be obtained.

Abstract: There is provided a power circuit for a display-device-driving circuit for supplying a plurality of voltages to a driving circuit for time-division-driving a display device, wherein each of the plurality of voltages are output via a constant-voltage circuit constituted by a regulator for dividing a voltage supplied from a power source and keeping divided voltages at a certain voltage level, whereby a stable power source consuming a small power to a driving circuit as a power source for a display device to be time-division-driven can be obtained.

Abstract: There is provided a power circuit for a display-device-driving circuit for supplying a plurality of voltages to a driving circuit for time-division-driving a display device, wherein each of the plurality of voltages are output via a constant-voltage circuit constituted by a regulator for dividing a voltage supplied from a power source and keeping divided voltages at a certain voltage level, whereby a stable power source consuming a small power to a driving circuit as a power source for a display device to be time-division-driven can be obtained.

Abstract: There is provided a power circuit for a display-device-driving circuit for supplying a plurality of voltages to a driving circuit for time-division-driving a display device, wherein each of the plurality of voltages are output via a constant-voltage circuit constituted by a regulator for dividing a voltage supplied from a power source and keeping divided voltages at a certain voltage level, whereby a stable power source consuming a small power to a driving circuit as a power source for a display device to be time-division-driven can be obtained.

Abstract: In a camera which includes an electronic flash device for illuminating a subject and a photo-taking mode setting member, the photo-taking mode setting member can be set to any one of: (a) a first mode, in which the electronic flash device emits light during a recording medium exposure operation, and emits auxiliary light during a focal point detection operation by a focal point detecting device; (b) a second mode, in which the electronic flash device does not emit light during a recording medium exposure operation, but the electronic flash device emits auxiliary light during a focal point detection operation by the focal point detecting device; and (c) a third mode, in which the electronic flash device emits light during a recording medium exposure operation, but the electronic flash device does not emit auxiliary light during a focal point detection operation by the focal point detecting device.

Abstract: In a camera which includes an electronic flash device for illuminating a subject and a photo-taking mode setting member, the photo-taking mode setting member can be set to any one of: (a) a first mode, in which the electronic flash device emits light during a recording medium exposure operation, and emits auxiliary light during a focal point detection operation by a focal point detecting device; (b) a second mode, in which the electronic flash device does not emit light during a recording medium exposure operation, but the electronic flash device emits auxiliary light during a focal point detection operation by the focal point detecting device; and (c) a third mode, in which the electronic flash device emits light during a recording medium exposure operation, but the electronic flash device does not emit auxiliary light during a focal point detection operation by the focal point detecting device.

Abstract: A camera having a magnetic recording circuit for recording information in a magnetic recording part of a film at each of photographing frames of the film is arranged such that, in an automatic exposure bracketing mode or an AE lock mode, information indicating that printing be performed under the same condition is recorded at each of the frames photographed in the above-stated mode.

Abstract: A camera system includes a zoom driving mechanism driven by a motor for varying the focal length of a lens, a detecting device for detecting the focal length of the lens, and a controller for automatically stopping the motor after a predetermined time period from the time when the detecting means detects the fact that the focal length of the taking lens reaches a telephoto end or a wide-angle end.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vibration driven motor, which obtains a driving force by forming a vibration wave upon application of a frequency signal to electro-mechanical converting elements. The control apparatus includes a pulse oscillation circuit, a counter for counting pulses from the pulse oscillation circuit, and a data set circuit for setting numerical value data. Every time the count value of the counter coincides with the data set in the set circuit, an output is generated, and the control circuit controls the frequency of the frequency signal according to the frequency of the generated output.