Abstract: An elastic fixing screw valve body is provided on a wall of a frame of an image-reading apparatus. The valve body allows a carriage fixing screw to be passed through the through-hole in the wall and the valve body when the image-reading device is prepared for transport to a new location so as to secure one or more carriages within the frame to the wall. The valve body also allows the carriage fixing screw to be removed when the image-reading device is prepared for normal scanning operation after being transported to the new location. In addition, the valve body acts to seal the interior space of the frame from invasion by dust via the through-hole when the carriage fixing screw is removed from the through-hole and normal scanning operation of the image-reading apparatus is resumed at the new location.

Abstract: Speed fluctuations at a motor supplied with a two-phase current is reduced by changing the current value ratio at each phase in the drive current to feed a drive motor for an image reader to allow a light source lamp to move, free from speed fluctuations, to scan at a constant scanning speed. The drive motor is supplied with current different in value at each phase from constant current drive circuits, which, in one embodiment, are connected with current regulating variable resistors. An acceleration detector is fixed at the drive motor to detect acceleration fluctuations in rotation of the drive motor to detect speed fluctuations. In some embodiments, thermal control of the motor drive circuit is provided and vibration proofing to isolate the light receptor from the drive motor.

Abstract: Speed fluctuations at a motor supplied with a two-phase current is reduced by changing the current value ratio at each phase in the drive current to feed a drive motor for an image reader to allow a light source lamp to move, free from speed fluctuations, to scan at a constant scanning speed. The drive motor is supplied with current different in value at each phase from constant current drive circuits, which, in one embodiment, are connected with current regulating variable resistors. An acceleration detector is fixed at the drive motor to detect acceleration fluctuations in rotation of the drive motor to detect speed fluctuations. In some embodiments, thermal control of the motor drive circuit is provided and vibration proofing to isolate the light receptor from the drive motor.

Abstract: An elastic fixing screw valve body is provided on a wall of a frame of an image-reading apparatus. The valve body allows a carriage fixing screw to be passed through the through-hole in the wall and the valve body when the image-reading device is prepared for transport to a new location so as to secure one or more carriages within the frame to the wall. The valve body also allows the carriage fixing screw to be removed when the image-reading device is prepared for normal scanning operation after being transported to the new location. In addition, the valve body acts to seal the interior space of the frame from invasion by dust via the through-hole when the carriage fixing screw is removed from the through-hole and normal scanning operation of the image-reading apparatus is resumed at the new location.

Abstract: An electronic still camera has a mechanical diaphragm mechanism for controlling the exposure of an image surface. The diaphragm mechanism includes an exposure plate having an opening of an aperture greater than an effective aperture corresponding to an open f-stop value, and at least one opening equal to an effective aperature corresponding to an f-stop value. By shifting the diaphragm plate, it is possible to set at least two types of f-stop values which include the open f-stop value. As a result, a diaphragm function in which effective aperture is made less than 1 mm can be achieved with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A filter is provided which can pass therethrough only a signal component having a frequency corresponding to a secondary higher harmonic frequency component (200-240 Hz) of the fluorescent light of the output signal from a light-receiving element for receiving incident light thereto from the photograph area. Based on the signal which is passed through the filter, it is detected whether the photography area is illuminated with the fluorescent light. Since the color temperatures of sunlight (outdoors in fine weather) and fluorescent light show substantially the same value, it is difficult to distinguish two kinds of above light sources. A ripple period of the fluorescent light and the like is measured, and the output signal of a light detecting device (e.g., a color temperature sensor, photometry element, and so forth) is sampled at a plurality of times in a length of time equivalent to one period of the measured ripple period.

Abstract: In a still-video camera, a video signal representing the image of a photographed subject is written in a video floppy during one revolution of the floppy, namely during an interval between one phase pulse PG and the next. Immediately after the phase pulse PG is generated, a field-shift pulse FS for reading the video signal out of an electronic image pick-up device is outputted. Read-out from the electronic image pick-up device by the field-shift pulse FS is inhibited during the time that a shutter is open. Writing is carried out from the moment of the next phase pulse PG after read-inhibit is cancelled. If the inhibition on read-out from the electronic image pick-up device were to be cancelled between the phase pulse PG and the field-shift pulse FS, read-out of the video signal by the field-shift pulse FS would be carried out, but it would not be possible to carry out recording without waiting for the next phase pulse PG.

Abstract: Method and device for measuring the brightness of an object in photographing the object in flash synchronization by use of an AE sensor capable of averaged overall light reading. In the method and device, in accordance with the distance of the object and also with the focal distance of a taking lens, an area occupied by a main object or a ratio of the occupation area on the light receiving surface of the AE sensor is estimated. Then, in accordance with said estimated occupation area or occupation area ratio of the main object and also with a measurement brightness B.sub.V(AV) measured by the AE sensor, there is found a brightness correction value .DELTA.B.sub.V which provides a value that increases as the occupation area of the main object increases and the measurement brightness B.sub.V(AV) measured by the AE sensor increases. Further, the thus obtained brightness correction value .DELTA.B.sub.V is added to the measurement brightness B.sub.V(AV) by the AE sensor to thereby find an object brightness.

Abstract: An automatic focussing adjusting device which controls properly an integration time necessary to integrate the amount of light received by a CCD line sensor for measuring the light of an object to detect a focal position. In the automatic focussing adjusting device, when the average value of the output data of the CCD line sensor is a value existing out of the stable operation region of the CCD line sensor, the integration in time for the amount of the light received from the object by the CCD line sensor is controlled so that the average value of the next output data of the CCD line sensor converges rapidly to the reference value of the output data to be selected in the CCD line sensor stable operation region. For the average value existing in the stable operation region, the integration time is controlled so that the average value of the next output data converges slowly to the reference value.

Abstract: An automatic focussing adjusting device which detects the amount of de-focussing of an image of an object to perform an automatic focussing adjustment of a taking lens of a camera including a zoom lens. The magnification m of a group of magnification varying lenses in the zoom lens is corrected and the amount of movement .DELTA.X of a group of focus lenses necessary for focussing is calculated based on a corrected magnification .alpha..multidot.m, so that a focussing adjustment can be executed. Also, an error in the amount of de-focussing, caused by manufacturing errors in dimensions defining a positional relationship between line sensors and a group of microscopic lenses in a focus detect element is corrected, and based on a correctively calculated amount of de-focussing .beta..multidot..DELTA.P, a focussing adjustment is performed.