Abstract: A lighting apparatus for an endoscope, includes: a light source for emitting light which is transmitted to a distal end of the endoscope via a light guide of the endoscope; a consumption recording device for recording the consumed light-emission time of the light source; and an indicating device for indicating information on the remaining life of the light source in accordance with data recorded in the consumption recording device; wherein the light source, the consumption recording device and the indicating device are provided in one unit.

Abstract: A connection system for an electronic endoscope, including a flexible scope and a video-signal processing unit, is utilized to establish a detachable connection between the scope and the unit. The scope has a solid image sensor to produce image-pixel signals, and the unit has a processor for processing the image-pixel signals to produce a video signal. The scope includes a first power line, a first group of signal lines and a first ground line which are utilized to feed said image-pixel signals to the unit, and the unit include a second power line, a second group of signal lines and a second ground line which are utilized to receive the image-pixel signals from the scope. A transistor is provided in one of the first and second power lines, and is usually in an OFF-state.

Abstract: An air feeding device for endoscope system includes an air compressor that compresses air and feeds the air in a sealed space, and a pressure sensor that detects air pressure in the sealed space. Further, a pressure setting device and a pressure controller are provided. The pressure setting device is used for setting a pressure value to be achieved in the sealed space, and the pressure controller turns ON and OFF the compressor in accordance with the air pressure detected by the pressure sensor and the pressure value set by the pressure setting device. The air feeding device has a main valve. An inlet of the main valve is connected to the sealed space, and an outlet of the main valve is connected to an outlet of the air feeding device. By opening the main valve, the air enclosed in the sealed space is discharged from the outlet to strike an object at a certain pressure.

Abstract: A sampling pulse generator for an electronic endoscope that comprises a CDS circuit, OR circuits, a clock pulse generator, a shift counter, first and second switch groups, EEPROM and a CPU, is provided. The generator cyclically generates clock pulses. The pulses are cyclically counted between 0 and 9 by the counter. The counter has ten output terminals that correspond to each of the count numbers. A signal is only output to a terminal corresponding to the current count number. Each of the first and second switch groups has ten switches that are connected to each of the terminals. With data in the EEPROM, the on-off states of the switches are set by the CPU. The CCD drive pulses are generated by signals from the terminals via OR circuits. The clamp pulse and sample-hold pulse are generated by signals from the switch groups which are set in the on state.

Abstract: An endoscope air sending device (15) has a compressor (13), an air tank (34), an air filter (35), a pressure control valve (38), a pressure sensor (14), and a discharge valve (12) are provided. The compressor and the air tank are communicated with each other through an air tube (AT5), and the air tank and the air filter are communicated with each other through an air tube (AT4). The air filter and the discharge valve are communicated with each other through an air tube (AT3), and the pressure control valve, the air sensor and the discharge valve are also communicated with one another through the air tube (AT3). By communicating those components with one another in the above-described manner, a closed space is formed.

Abstract: An air feeding device for an endoscope system in which air is compressed in a sealed space and discharged from an outlet of a tube connected to the sealed space which is provided with a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the air in the sealed space, and a pressure adjusting system that adjusts the pressure of air in the sealed space and a pressure setting device through which an operator is capable of setting a discharge pressure. A memory storing a relationship between a discharge pressure and a pressure in the sealed space is further provided. A pressure controller is also provided, which controls the pressure adjusting system in accordance with the air pressure detected by the pressure sensor and the pressure value set by the pressure setting device.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises plural video processor devices for an endoscope prepared for every video endoscope, a video signal switching device connected to each of the video processor devices for an endoscope, and a monitor connected to the video signal switching device. The video signal switching device comprises two video signal input terminals respectively connected to the video processor devices, a flip flop for generating an alternative switching signal in accordance with the rotational position of a switching dial, two switches of which one ends respectively connected to the video signal input terminals and which opens and closes in accordance with the switching signal generated from this flip flop, and a video signal output terminal connected to the other ends of these two switches.

Abstract: Inside an endoscope air sending device (15), an air compressor (13), an air tank (34), an air filter (35), a pressure control valve (38), a pressure sensor (14), and a discharge valve (12) are provided so that those elements form a closed space therein. An air sending fan (47) is provided on the wall of a housing (10), and a circuit board (K) is provided above the air sending fan (47) and those elements forming the closed space. A discharge outlet (60) is provided on the housing (10) in such a manner that the discharge outlet (60) is located above the circuit board (K).

Abstract: A device for processing digital data receives digital data with a number of original digital data being reduced in a predetermined manner, discriminates whether a predetermined reference part of the received digital data meets a predetermined condition, sets a value corresponding to a remaining part of the received digital data, and modifies the value in a predetermined way if the reference part meets the predetermined condition.

Abstract: The laser marking device comprises a laser source, an optical system for projecting a laser beam emitted from the laser source to form a laser spot on an object, a light distributing element that is disposed in an optical path of the optical system and includes at least one light distributing portion that distributes a part of the laser beam to form at least one static reference line on the object so that the laser spot is formed on the static reference line, a rotating mechanism that rotates at least a part of the optical system to form a dynamic reference on the object, and a switch for selecting between a rotation mode in which the rotating mechanism is activated and a stationary mode in which said rotating mechanism is not activated.

Abstract: An electric shaver is of a type including at least one spirally-bladed cylindrical rotary cutter cooperable with a finely perforated stationary blade foil. The shaver includes a motor casing including a drive motor accommodated therein and having first and second upright walls spaced a distance from each other and accommodated in a shaver casing with the first and second upright walls protruding upwardly outwardly from the top end of the shaver casing; and a cutter assembly including a generally U-shaped support structure having first and second arms spaced a distance from each other.

Abstract: A light intensity control circuit for an optical scanning device in which an intensity of a beam emitted by a laser diode, is modulated in accordance with an image signal. The image signal includes information about gradation levels of an image to be formed by the scanning device on a photoconductive surface. A first control circuit sets a first intensity value of the beam corresponding to a minimum gradation level of the image to be formed, and a second circuit sets a second intensity value of the beam corresponding to a maximum gradation level of the image to be formed. A driving circuit drives the laser diode such that the intensity of the beam is determined in accordance with the image signal and a difference between the first intensity value and the second intensity value.

Abstract: A strobe control apparatus for a strobe-incorporated camera. A light emitter is supported in a camera body by a supporting mechanism so as to move between a retracted position and an operative position. A drive mechanism moves the light emitter between the retracted position and the operative position. A light emitter controller drives the drive mechanism to move the light emitter to the operative position, and an emission controller controls the strobe to emit strobe light when the light emitter is in the operative position.

Abstract: A strobe control apparatus for a strobe-incorporated camera. A light emitter is supported in a camera body by a supporting mechanism so as to move between a retracted position and an operative position. A drive mechanism moves the light emitter between the retracted position and the operative position. A light emitter controller drives the drive mechanism to move the light emitter to the operative position, and an emission controller controls the strobe to emit strobe light when the light emitter is in the operative position.

Abstract: An optical scanning device emits a scanning laser beam which scans a photoconductive material, and a detection device located upstream with respect to the scanning direction of the laser beam. The laser beam is first emitted to scan the detection device, and the reception of the laser beam is detected by the detection device. The emission of the laser beam is terminated as soon as the detection device first detects the reception of the laser beam. A scanning laser beam modulated with image information is then emitted to scan the photoconductive material.

Abstract: A strobe control apparatus is disclosed for a strobe camera having a light emitter that is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The strobe control apparatus includes a shutter button having a first position which turns a photometering switch ON and a second position which turns a release switch ON. The light emitter may be controlled in accordance with an automatic light emitting mode or a compulsive light emitting mode. In the automatic light emitting mode, the light emitter is moved to an operative position and emits light when the brightness of an object to be photographed is below a predetermined value. In the compulsive light emitting mode, the light emitter emits light regardless of the brightness of the object to be photographed.

Abstract: In a camera provided with a finder and a photographic lens, the focal length of the photographic lens being variable, there is provided a distance measuring device having a pair of optical elements at the front side of the camera. The optical axes of the pair of optical elements are being different from the optical axis of the finder and a line sensor having a pair of image-receiving areas for receiving a pair of images of a photographed object through the pair of optical elements is provided. The respective image-receiving area of the line sensors are selected depending on the focal length of the photographic lens, which corresponds to the range at which an object to be photographed is located. In addition, there is provided an auxiliary light projector for projecting a pattern image to the object to be photographed, the image magnification of which being variable corresponding to the focal length of the photographic lens.

Abstract: A camera having a strobe incorporated therein including a strobe light emitter which moves between a retracted position in which the light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which the light emitter emits strobe light. An emission mode selecting device selectively sets an automatic light emission mode, in which the strobe light emitter emits strobe light upon exposure, when the brightness of an object to be taken is below a predetermined value. A compulsive light emission mode is provided, in which the light emitter compulsively emits the stobe light upon exposure, regardless of the object brightness. A light emitter moving and controlling device moves the light emitter to a waiting position, located between the retracted position and the operative position, and to the operative position when the automatic light emission mode and the compulsive emission mode are selected, respectively.

Abstract: A strobe incorporated camera having a strobe light emitter which emits strobe light, a light emitter driving mechanism which moves the light emitter between a retracted position in which the light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which the light emitter emits the strobe light, a photometering device for obtaining an exposure factor when a first switch is turned ON, and an exposure device for performing a predetermined exposure when a second switch is turned ON. The camera includes a strobe judging device for determining whether the strobe should be used, in accordance with the exposure factor, and a strobe controller for moving the strobe light emitter to the operative position when the strobe judging device determines that the strobe should be used when the first switch or the second switch is turned ON.

Abstract: A strobe incorporated camera having a strobe light emitter which emits strobe light, a light emitter driving mechanism which moves the light emitter between a retracted position in which the light emitter is retracted in a camera body and an operative position in which the light emitter emits the strobe light, a photometering device for obtaining an exposure factor when a first switch is turned ON, and an exposure device for performing a predetermined exposure when a second switch is turned ON. The camera includes a strobe judging device for determining whether the strobe should be used, in accordance with the exposure factor, and a strobe controller for moving the strobe light emitter to the operative position when the strobe judging device determines that the strobe should be used when the first switch or the second switch is turned ON.