Abstract: This invention can efficiently remove, within a short period of time, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical element arranged on the front surface of an image sensor. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image, an optical element inserted between the image sensor and a photographing optical system which forms the object image, a foreign substance position storage unit which stores the position of a foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, a vibration unit which vibrates the optical element to remove the foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, and a control unit which controls a driving parameter of the vibration unit on the basis of the foreign substance position information stored in the foreign substance position storage unit.

Abstract: This invention can efficiently remove, within a short period of time, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical element arranged on the front surface of an image sensor. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image, an optical element inserted between the image sensor and a photographing optical system which forms the object image, a foreign substance position storage unit which stores the position of a foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, a vibration unit which vibrates the optical element to remove the foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, and a control unit which controls a driving parameter of the vibration unit on the basis of the foreign substance position information stored in the foreign substance position storage unit.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus that has a simple structure is disclosed. The image-pickup apparatus includes a linking box provided with a lens mount portion, an image-pickup device unit that receives light that has passed through the lens mount portion, the linking box and a main chassis that is arranged between the linking box and the image-pickup device unit. The main chassis includes an aperture portion through which the light passes. The linking box is fixed to the main chassis, and the image-pickup device unit is fixed to the linking box.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a digital still camera enables display of an instruction manual and providing explanations of a variety of functions and operations to the user. Specifically, the electronic device has a storage unit that stores instruction manual data and a display control unit that reads instruction manual electronic data from the storage means and displays the instruction manual on a display device. Further, the electronic device has an editor that is capable of editing the instruction manual displayed on the display device and a control member for operating the display control unit and the editor, making it possible to edit the instruction manual electronic data according to the way each user uses the camera, their level of skill and experience, in order to make the instruction manual easier to use.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus that has a simple structure is disclosed. The image-pickup apparatus includes a linking box provided with a lens mount portion, an image-pickup device unit that receives light that has passed through the lens mount portion, the linking box and a main chassis that is arranged between the linking box and the image-pickup device unit. The main chassis includes an aperture portion through which the light passes. The linking box is fixed to the main chassis, and the image-pickup device unit is fixed to the linking box.

Abstract: A simple-structured non-contact-guidable magnetic floating device which has stable restoring forces in vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the direction of guiding the moving member. At least one inner magnetic member is formed so that magnetic poles are continuously arranged lengthwise thereof. Two outer magnetic members are disposed on both sides of the inner magnetic member in adjacent but spaced relation thereto and formed so that magnetic poles are continuously arranged in a lengthwise thereof. A non-magnetic coupling member is provided apart from the inner magnetic member, for coupling together the two outer magnetic members. A support is provided for supporting and fixing one of the inner and outer magnetic members.

Abstract: A noncontact magnetic bearing has cylindrical magnetic members magnetized axially, slightly different in radius and different in length, disposed in opposite relation to each other, with their magnetic poles of reverse polarities displaced vertically relative to each other. Either the inner cylindrical magnetic member or the outer cylindrical magnetic member can be used as a shaft, and consequently, the other is fixed to a support member. The inner cylindrical magnetic member and the other cylindrical magnetic member are held at a stable and mutual-noncontact state to provide a noncontact magnetic bearing that is stable axially, as well as radially.

Abstract: An echo cancelling system, in which a pseudo-echo is provided by producing an impulse response of an echo path, reversed in phase and then applied to a subtractor of the echo path to cancel an echo. A low level reference signal, such as random noise or an artificial random signal, is continuously applied to the echo path and successively delayed by a sampling period to obtain a plurality of delayed reference signals, which are multplied by the output of the subtactor to obtain a plurality of multiplied outputs. The multiplied outputs are integrated by integrators and then amplified by high gain amplifiers to be employed for producing the psuedo-echo. As a result of such construction of the adaptive control loop, the convergence time for cancellation is effectively improved.