Abstract: A lubricating oil composition employable in combination with a low sulfur content fuel oil is preferably composed of a base oil having a sulfur content of at most 0.2 wt. %, an ashless dispersant comprising an alkenyl- or alkyl-succinimide or a derivative thereof, a metal-containing detergent containing an organic acid metal salt, a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, a zinc dialkylaryldithiophosphate, and an oxidation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a phenol compound, an amine compound, and a molybdenum-containing compound, wherein a ratio of the phosphorus content of the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate to the phosphorus content of the zinc dialkylaryldithiophosphate is in the range of 20:1 to 2:1.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention is equipped with an image sensor; an A/D converter that converts analog image-pixel signals read from the image sensor to digital image-pixel signals; an image stabilizer that comprises a coil and a movable member configured to move in a given direction while supporting the image sensor; an image stabilization controller that controls a position of the movable member at given time intervals by sending pulse drive signals through the coil; and a timing adjustment processor that shifts at least one of a rise timing and fall timing of the pulse drive signals from a signal-processing interval associated with an A/D conversion process.

Abstract: A sequential shooting controller includes both high and low load drive modes, and first and second power-voltage detectors. The high/low load drive modes drive a device under high/low loads. The first power-voltage detector detects a power-voltage by connecting a load. The second power-voltage detector detects the voltage across the device. The first power-voltage detector is actuated at the beginning of sequential shooting before a first image capturing operation starts. The high load image capturing operation starts when the voltage detected by the first power-voltage detector is higher than a first threshold. The low load image capturing operation starts when the voltage detected by the first power-voltage detector is lower than the first threshold. The second power-voltage detector is driven during a high load image capturing operation. The second power-voltage detector is disabled during a low load image capturing operation.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention is equipped with an image sensor; an A/D converter that converts analog image-pixel signals read from the image sensor to digital image-pixel signals; an image stabilizer that comprises a coil and a movable member configured to move in a given direction while supporting the image sensor; an image stabilization controller that controls a position of the movable member at given time intervals by sending pulse drive signals through the coil; and a timing adjustment processor that shifts at least one of a rise timing and fall timing of the pulse drive signals from a signal-processing interval associated with an A/D conversion process.

Abstract: A dust removal apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit has an imaging device and is movable. The controller strikes the movable unit against a boundary of a range of movement of the movable unit as a dust removal operation. The controller counts the number of times of the dust removal operation, measures an elapsed time from the point when counting the number of times of the dust removal operation commences. When the elapsed time is less than or equal to a time period and the number of times of the dust removal operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, the controller halts the dust removal operation until a predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: A sequential shooting controller includes both high and low load drive modes, and first and second power-voltage detectors. The high/low load drive modes drive a device under high/low loads. The first power-voltage detector detects a power-voltage by connecting a load. The second power-voltage detector detects the voltage across the device. The first power-voltage detector is actuated at the beginning of sequential shooting before a first image capturing operation starts. The high load image capturing operation starts when the voltage detected by the first power-voltage detector is higher than a first threshold. The low load image capturing operation starts when the voltage detected by the first power-voltage detector is lower than the first threshold. The second power-voltage detector is driven during a high load image capturing operation. The second power-voltage detector is disabled during a low load image capturing operation.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes an AF sensor which converts received object light into electrical charges, integrates the electrical charges, and outputs the integrated electrical charges as a video signal in pixel units; a photometering sensor which converts received light into an electrical signal to output the electrical signal as a photometering signal; a flicker repetition period determining device for determining a flicker repetition period of the received object light from fluctuations of the photometering signal of the photometering sensor; and a controller which causes the AF sensor to start integrating the electrical charges in synchronization with the flicker repetition period.

Abstract: A camera has a viewfinder that forms a subject image to be observed, a multipoint auto-focus adjuster that focuses the subject image on the basis of multiple focus points defined on the subject image, a superimposer that superimposes an indicator mark on a position of a given focus point, and a focus point luminance detector that detects a luminance of the position. Then, the superimposer superimposes the indicator mark such that a brightness of the indicator mark increases as the luminance of the position increases.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the supply of electric power to mobile equipment has a battery checker that checks a remaining battery-level of at least one of plural batteries including main battery. The main battery is installed in a body, and the other batteries are installed in an auxiliary electric power source accessory that is detachably mounted on the body. The apparatus further has a battery-level indicator that indicates a mark so as to represent a remaining battery-level based on a plurality of grades and indicates a common mark in each grade, and a battery selector that selectively uses one of the plural batteries. When the remaining battery-level shifts over a boundary battery-level positioned between grades adjacent to each other, the battery selector selects one of the plural batteries, the remaining battery-level of which is greatest.

Abstract: A dust removal apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit has an imaging device and is movable. The controller strikes the movable unit against a boundary of a range of movement of the movable unit as a dust removal operation. The controller counts the number of times of the dust removal operation, measures an elapsed time from the point when counting the number of times of the dust removal operation commences. When the elapsed time is less than or equal to a time period and the number of times of the dust removal operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, the controller halts the dust removal operation until a predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body including a photometering device and an external operating device, and a photographing lens which is detachably attached to the camera body, the photographing lens including an aperture setting device for selecting an auto aperture setting and at least one fixed aperture setting. A full-aperture photometering operation is performed when the aperture setting device is positioned at the auto aperture setting, and a stop-down photometering operation is performed in response to an operation of the external operating device when the aperture setting device is positioned at the fixed aperture setting.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method which makes it possible to accurately grasp chip positions on a wafer. The method comprises the steps of forming an uppermost layer wiring, a passivation film and a resist; exposing, using a reticle having formed thereon a pad pattern, exposure shot regions excluding one exposure shot region out of all exposure shot regions of the resist; exposing, using a reticle having formed thereon a pattern different from the pad pattern, the one remaining exposure shot region; developing the whole resist to form resist patterns; and etching the passivation film using the resist pattern as masks to respectively form a pad for a product chip and an opening section of a reference chip in the regions exposed using these different reticles. Thus, the product chip and the reference chip can be discriminated by image recognition so that chip positions on the wafer can be accurately grasped.

Abstract: Capacitance sensor electrodes are arranged in a form of matrix on a semiconductor substrate and coated with a cover film. These capacitance sensor electrodes are connected to a drive circuit. ESD electrodes are arranged in the vicinities of corner portions of the capacitance sensor electrodes. Each ESD electrode is composed of a film containing, for example, aluminum excellent in conductivity and a TiN film formed thereon. The ESD electrodes are grounded through the semiconductor substrate. On each ESD electrode, a plurality of fine ESD holes reaching the ESD electrode from a surface of the cover film are formed.

Abstract: A flash case, in which a flash is provided, is automatically moved to an up position, when a user selects a flash mode in a state where the flash case is at a down position, when a user begins to forcibly raise the flash case by hand in a state where the flash case is at the down position, or when the flash case is at the down position in a state where a photometric operation starts in an auto-flash mode. The flash case is automatically moved to the down position, when an external force is added to the flash case at the up position.

Abstract: A focus detection device includes an AF sensor which converts received object light into electrical charges, integrates the electrical charges, and outputs the integrated electrical charges as a video signal in pixel units; a photometering sensor which converts received light into an electrical signal to output the electrical signal as a photometering signal; a flicker repetition period determining device for determining a flicker repetition period of the received object light from fluctuations of the photometering signal of the photometering sensor; and a controller which causes the AF sensor to start integrating the electrical charges in synchronization with the flicker repetition period.

Abstract: Capacitance sensor electrodes are arranged in a form of matrix on a semiconductor substrate and coated with a cover film. These capacitance sensor electrodes are connected to a drive circuit. ESD electrodes are arranged in the vicinities of corner portions of the capacitance sensor electrodes. Each ESD electrode is composed of a film containing, for example, aluminum excellent in conductivity and a TiN film formed thereon. The ESD electrodes are grounded through the semiconductor substrate. On each ESD electrode, a plurality of fine ESD holes reaching the ESD electrode from a surface of the cover film are formed.

Abstract: In a multipoint autofocus system in which a focus state of objects at different positions in a plurality of focus detection zones in an image surface is detected, and thereafter, one of pieces of information on the focus state thus detected is selected, so that a focusing optical system is moved in accordance with the selected focus data, provision is made of a judging apparatus for judging the contrast of the detected object in the focus detection zones, and a controller for selecting data representing the shortest focus from among the focus data of the objects in the focus detection zones in which the judged object contrast is higher than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A camera has a viewfinder that forms a subject image to be observed, a multipoint auto-focus adjuster that focuses the subject image on the basis of multiple focus points defined on the subject image, a superimposer that superimposes an indicator mark on a position of a given focus point, and a focus point luminance detector that detects a luminance of the position. Then, the superimposer superimposes the indicator mark such that a brightness of the indicator mark increases as the luminance of the position increases.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the supply of electric power to mobile equipment has a battery checker that checks a remaining battery-level of at least one of plural batteries including main battery. The main battery is installed in a body, and the other batteries are installed in an auxiliary electric power source accessory that is detachably mounted on the body. The apparatus further has a battery-level indicator that indicates a mark so as to represent a remaining battery-level based on a plurality of grades and indicates a common mark in each grade, and a battery selector that selectively uses one of the plural batteries. When the remaining battery-level shifts over a boundary battery-level positioned between grades adjacent to each other, the battery selector selects one of the plural batteries, the remaining battery-level of which is greatest.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body including a photometering device and an external operating device, and a photographing lens which is detachably attached to the camera body, the photographing lens including an aperture setting device for selecting an auto aperture setting and at least one fixed aperture setting. A full-aperture photometering operation is performed when the aperture setting device is positioned at the auto aperture setting, and a stop-down photometering operation is performed in response to an operation of the external operating device when the aperture setting device is positioned at the fixed aperture setting.