Abstract: A power circuit for generating a standard voltage based on an input voltage, includes a step-down circuit, a step-up circuit, a voltage determiner, a voltage output unit, and a circuit actuator. The step-down circuit steps down the input voltage to the standard voltage, when the input voltage is larger than the standard voltage. The step-up circuit steps up the input voltage to the standard voltage, when the input voltage is smaller than the standard voltage. The voltage determiner determines whether the input voltage is larger than or smaller than the standard voltage. The voltage output unit receives the input voltage, and outputs the input voltage as a supply voltage when the voltage determiner determines that the input voltage is larger than the standard voltage, and outputs no voltage when the voltage determiner determines that the input voltage is smaller than the standard voltage.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a plurality of laser devices, and an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes. Each of the laser devices radiates a pulse modulated laser beam so as to detect distance information or data relating to a topography of a measurement subject. The laser beam is radiated onto the measurement subject and a reflected light beam is sensed by the CCD. Signal charge corresponding to a distance from the image capturing device to the measurement subject is accumulated in each of the photo-diodes, and thus the above distance information is sensed. Each laser beam, respectively radiated from each of the laser devices, shares illuminating area at the distance of the measurement subject, so that radiant energy of each laser beam can be reduced by sharing a single distance measurement operation among the plurality of laser devices.

Abstract: An optical image stabilizer includes an optical system including at least one image shake counteracting optical element movable in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; at least one stepping motor for moving the image shake counteracting optical element in the plane; at least one shake velocity sensor which senses the speed of shake applied to the optical system; and a controller which calculates the number of driving pulses for the stepping motor based on shake speed information output from the shake velocity sensor, and drives the stepping motor so that the image shake counteracting optical element moves in the plane to counteract image shake on an imaging surface of the optical system. The controller changes power supplied to the stepping motor in accordance with the shake speed information when driving the stepping motor.

Abstract: A power circuit for an electronic machine includes first and second step-up circuits, and a voltage applier. The first step-up circuit has a step-up transformer and a current controller. The current controller controls the amount of current supplied to the primary side of the step-up transformer according to the amount of voltage at the secondary side of the step-up transformer, so that the voltage applied to the primary side of the step-up transformer by a D.C. power source is stepped up to a first voltage. The second step-up circuit steps voltage applied by the D.C. power source up to a second voltage being smaller the first voltage. The voltage applier applies the second voltage to the secondary side of the step-up transformer. The current controller controls the amount of current supplied to the primary side of the step-up transformer according to the second voltage when the first step-up circuit starts, so that rush current caused by starting the first step-up circuit is restrained.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device has a center LED and peripheral LEDs which are arranged around the center LED. The center LED and peripheral LEDs irradiate distance measuring light beams to a measurement subject. The distance measurement light beams are reflected by a surface of the measurement subject, and the reflected light beams are received by an imaging device, so that distances from the imaging device to the measurement subject are sensed in accordance with the received light amount. The irradiation timings of the center LED and the peripheral LEDs are adjusted, in such a manner that, when the measurement subject is a flat plane parallel to the light receiving surface of the imaging device, the reflected light beams from all of the LEDs are simultaneously received by the imaging device.

Abstract: A camera provided with camera-shake compensation functionality that comprises a camera-shake detector, a photographing mode selector, an adjuster, and an anti-shake mechanism. The camera-shake detector detects a quantity of shake of the camera. The photographing mode selector is used to select a photographing mode. The adjuster adjusts output signals from the camera-shake detector, in accordance with the photographing mode selected by the photographing mode selector. The anti-shake mechanism compensates for a camera-shake to be counteracted, based on the output signals adjusted by the adjuster.

Abstract: An auxiliary power supply unit which is mountable to a portable electronic device having a battery, includes at least one capacitor, and an I/F connector which is connectable to an I/F connector of the portable electronic device, the I/F connector of the portable electronic device including power terminals connected to the battery. The I/F connector of the auxiliary power supply unit includes power terminals connected to the at least one capacitor, wherein the at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to the battery when the auxiliary power supply unit is mounted to the portable electronic device via the power terminals of the I/F connectors.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus is provided that comprises an imaging device, a support member, a drive mechanism, and a fixed member. The support member supports the imaging device. The drive mechanism moves the support member in a plane parallel to an imaging surface of the imaging device and in an independent first and second directions. The fixed member is placed within a support-member movable-range, in which the support member is moved by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism induces impact on the support member by engaging the support member with the fixed member.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light emitting device and an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes, a vertical transfer unit and a substrate. A pulse-modulated distance measuring light beam is radiated from the light emitting device to a measurement subject and a reflected light beam, generated by the measurement subject due to the distance measuring light beam, is sensed by the photo-diodes, so that a distance information sensing operation which detects distance information of the measurement subject is executed. The data, for example, relating to the distance information or the image information of the measurement subject, which is stored in the device, is transmitted to an external computer system by an optical transmission system using the above light emitting device. A data transmitting light beam may be superposed onto the distance measuring light beam.

Abstract: A power circuit for generating a standard voltage based on an input voltage, includes a step-down circuit, a step-up circuit, a voltage determiner, a voltage output unit, and a circuit actuator. The step-down circuit steps down the input voltage to the standard voltage, when the input voltage is larger than the standard voltage. The step-up circuit steps up the input voltage to the standard voltage, when the input voltage is smaller than the standard voltage. The voltage determiner determines whether the input voltage is larger than or smaller than the standard voltage. The voltage output unit receives the input voltage, and outputs the input voltage as a supply voltage when the voltage determiner determines that the input voltage is larger than the standard voltage, and outputs no voltage when the voltage determiner determines that the input voltage is smaller than the standard voltage.

Abstract: An illuminating device which is provided with a plurality of light source units is provided. Each of the plurality of light source units includes a light emitting unit having a light emitting device, a first optical system that adjusts an optical path of light emitted from the light emitting unit, an electrode that supplies power to the light emitting unit, and a connecting element that connects the light emitting unit to the electrode and is disposed so as to block a part of the optical path of light from the light emitting unit thus to create an unilluminated area. In this structure, the plurality of light source units are arranged such that unilluminated areas of the plurality of light source units are substantially uniformly distributed over an entirety of an area illuminated by all the plurality of light source units.

Abstract: Rotations of a camera around two axes are detected by two gyro sensors. A color temperature of a photographing location is detected by an AWB sensor. One of a plurality of low-pass filters, the cut-off frequency component of which is different, can be connected to one gyro sensor. The low-pass filter which is connected to the gyro sensor, is changed by a transfer switch based on the output result of the AWB sensor, so that a frequency range which is retrieved from the output voltage of the gyro sensor is controlled. With respect to another gyro sensor, a similar operation is carried out. A hand-tremble correcting circuit calculates a driving amount of an image sensor, by which the tremble is canceled, based on the output voltages of the gyro sensors in which a predetermined frequency range was retrieved in accordance with the condition of the photographing location.

Abstract: A power circuit for an electronic machine includes first and second step-up circuits, and a voltage applier. The first step-up circuit has a step-up transformer and a current controller. The current controller controls the amount of current supplied to the primary side of the step-up transformer according to the amount of voltage at the secondary side of the step-up transformer, so that the voltage applied to the primary side of the step-up transformer by a D.C. power source is stepped up to a first voltage. The second step-up circuit steps voltage applied by the D.C. power source up to a second voltage being smaller the first voltage. The voltage applier applies the second voltage to the secondary side of the step-up transformer. The current controller controls the amount of current supplied to the primary side of the step-up transformer according to the second voltage when the first step-up circuit starts, so that rush current caused by starting the first step-up circuit is restrained.

Abstract: An illuminating device is used for oral photography and is connectable to a lens barrel provided on a camera. The illuminating device includes a light-emitting surface that has an arc shape, so that a periphery of a mouth being under a nose of a person being photographed can be exclusively illuminated.

Abstract: An indication-selecting device for an electronic device includes (1) an indicator for simultaneously indicating a plurality of icons which correspond to a plurality of functions of the electronic device, and which are classified into a plurality of groups; (2) an indication-distinguishing device which distinguishes all the icons of a group which has been selected from icons in the remaining groups which are not selected; (3) a selection device for selecting a desired icon in the group which has been selected; and (4) an enabling device for enabling a function corresponding to the desired icon which is selected by the selection device.

Abstract: A light-amount control device includes a plurality of lighting units each of which emits light for illuminating a photographing area of a photographing optical system. Further, the light-amount control device includes a peripheral light amount data calculator and a lighting unit controller. The peripheral light amount data calculator calculates a peripheral light amount data defining ratios of light emission intensities for the lighting units, to make the illuminance of an image plane of a standard object that has a flat surface being perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing optical system and having a constant reflecting light ratio, constant when the standard object is illuminated by the lighting units. The image plane is formed by reflected light from the surface of the standard object that enters the photographing optical system.

Abstract: A fluorescent structure is provided on a curved recess plane of a reflector. The fluorescent structure has a shape of a cylinder which is cut by a plane including its central axis and along its longitudinal direction. An inner wall of the fluorescent structure tapers in like a cone from both ends to the central portion of the fluorescent structure. The structure includes a fluorescent material, for example YAG, which converts blue light to white light and diffuses the white light. Blue LEDs are provided close to both ends of the structure. The blue LEDs are positioned such that blue light emitted from the blue LED enters from both ends and is led to the central portion.

Abstract: Inner walls of a reflecting cup of a light emitting device include a base plane, a first pair of parallel planes, and a second pair of planes. The first pair of parallel planes are perpendicular to the base plane. The second pair of parallel planes are perpendicular to the base plane, and cross the first pair of parallel planes at right angles. An LED chip which emits a blue light is provided on the base plane. The LED chip is sealed in the cup by a fluorescent member including a fluorescent material, for example YAG. A ratio of a length of the first pair of parallel planes along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitted from the LED chip and a length of the second pair of parallel planes along the perpendicular plane equals the aspect ratio of a photographing area of a camera which is used with the light emitting device.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a plurality of laser devices, and an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes. Each of the laser devices radiates a pulse modulated laser beam so as to detect distance information or data relating to a topography of a measurement subject. The laser beam is radiated onto the measurement subject and a reflected light beam is sensed by the CCD. Signal charge corresponding to a distance from the image capturing device to the measurement subject is accumulated in each of the photo-diodes, and thus the above distance information is sensed. Each laser beam, respectively radiated from each of the laser devices, shares illuminating area at the distance of the measurement subject, so that radiant energy of each laser beam can be reduced by sharing a single distance measurement operation among the plurality of laser devices.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a plurality of laser devices, and an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes. Each of the laser devices radiates a pulse modulated laser beam so as to detect distance information or data relating to a topography of a measurement subject. The laser beam is radiated onto the measurement subject and a reflected light beam is sensed by the CCD. Signal charge corresponding to a distance from the image capturing device to the measurement subject is accumulated in each of the photo-diodes, and thus the above distance information is sensed. Each laser beam, respectively radiated from each of the laser devices, shares illuminating area at the distance of the measurement subject, so that radiant energy of each laser beam can be reduced by sharing a single distance measurement operation among the plurality of laser devices.