Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a guide direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element so as to counteract image shake, including a first moving element moved by a drive source; a second moving element movable relative to the first moving element, and applies a moving force to a holder holding the image-stabilizing optical element when the second moving element is moved by the first moving element; and a moving-element control mechanism which resiliently connects the first and second moving elements to each other to allow the first and second moving elements to selectively move integrally and relative to each other in accordance with a magnitude of a resistance to a movement between the drive source and the holder.

Abstract: The invention provides a water-soluble dietary fiber enriching agent comprising a modified starch which contains dietary fibers in an amount not more than 5% by mass measured by Prosky's method and a low-molecular weight water-soluble dietary fiber in an amount not less than 25% by mass. The water-soluble dietary fiber enriching agent contains a low-molecular weight water-soluble dietary fiber, and does not deteriorate the mouthfeel of the food obtained using the same.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device, the image shake counteracting driving device including a drive source; a first moving element; a second moving element capable of transferring a moving force of the first moving element to a holder which holds the image-stabilizing optical element; and a mutual guiding device which couples the first and second moving elements to allow the first and second moving elements to move relative to each other in the guide direction. The mutual guiding device includes two first slidable portions provided at two different positions in a direction orthogonal to the guide direction, respectively; and one second slidable portion provided at a position different from the positions of the two first slidable portions in the guide direction.

Abstract: A photographic device, includes a shake detector, a shake mitigator, a first commander, and a shake controller. The shake detector detects a device shake, that is, a shaking of the photographic device. The shake mitigator mitigates the effects of the device shake to reduce an image shake that is a shake of a photographed subject image. The first commander commands the photographic device to photograph the subject image. The shake controller controls the shake mitigator so that the shake mitigator refrains from mitigating the effects of the device shake from the point when the first commander commands the photographic device to photograph the subject image, until the point when photographing the subject image commences.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes an image pickup device; a guide device which guides the image pickup device in a manner to allow the image pickup device to move linearly in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, the guide device and the image pickup device being arranged at different positions in the plane; and a flexible printed wiring board which extends from the image pickup device. The flexible printed wiring board includes an integrally-movable portion which is connected to the image pickup device to move with the image pickup device, and a freely-deformable portion extending from the integrally-movable portion. The flexible printed wiring board is orientated toward the guide device so that a boundary between the integrally-movable portion and the freely-deformable portion is positioned close to the guide device.

Abstract: An image stabilizer for counteracting image shake of an object image formed on an image pickup device includes an image-pickup-device holding member; a guide device which guides the image-pickup-device holding member so as to be allowed to move linearly in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; a driving device which moves the image-pickup-device holding member in a guide direction of the guide device to a force receiving portion on the image-pickup-device holding member; and a flexible printed wiring board, extending from the image pickup device, a part of which being fixed to the image-pickup-device holding member at a fixing position thereon. A distance between the fixing position and the force receiving portion is smaller than a distance between the guide device and the force receiving portion in a direction orthogonal to both the optical axis direction and the guide direction.

Abstract: A retractable photographic lens includes a moving ring; a holding frame which holds a retractable optical element and is movable between a photographing position and a displaced position displaced from the photographing position; and a driving device which moves the holding frame from the photographing position to the displaced position using a rearward moving force of the moving ring when the retractable photographic lens moves from a operating state to a fully-retracted state. The driving device includes first and second driving devices which give the holding frame first and second amounts of retractive movement per unit of movement of the moving ring, respectively. When the retractable photographic lens moves from the operating state to the fully-retracted state, the first driving device firstly moves the holding frame toward the displaced position and subsequently the second driving device moves the holding frame to the displaced position.

Abstract: A camera having an image-stabilizing function includes an image-stabilizing mechanism which corrects image blur that occurs due to hand shake of the camera; a shutter-release operating member; and an image-stabilizer operating member which is operably movable between an image-stabilizer-activated position and an image-stabilizer-deactivated position, the image-stabilizer operating member being provided separately from the shutter-release operating member on a camera body of the camera. The image-stabilizing mechanism is activated so as to be capable of image stabilization while the image-stabilizer operating member is positioned at the image-stabilizer-activated position. The image-stabilizing mechanism is deactivated so as to be incapable of image stabilization while the image-stabilizer operating member is positioned at the image-stabilizer-deactivated position.

Abstract: An insertion member fixing structure includes an insertion member which is inserted into a support hole formed in a support member; and outer and inner adhesive-pouring recesses formed on an inner peripheral surface of the support hole at one end thereof and on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion member, respectively, in a manner so as to face each other and be communicatively connected to each other in a state where the insertion member is inserted into the support hole. The insertion member is fixed to the support member by pouring an adhesive into the outer and inner adhesive-pouring recesses so that the adhesive spreads into the outer and inner adhesive-pouring recess.

Abstract: An inclination angle adjusting mechanism includes a mounting plate to which an image pickup device is mounted; a reference member holding the mounting plate; through-holes formed in the mounting plate; screw bearing seats projecting from the reference member; adjustment screws screwed into female screw holes formed in the screw bearing seats, respectively, and head portions of the adjustment screws being in contact with the mounting plate; and a biasing device so as to bring the mounting plate into contact with back surfaces of the adjustment screws. Maximum tightening positions of the adjustment screws are defined by engagement of back surfaces of the head portions with ends of the screw bearing seats, wherein the mounting plate remains not in contact with the reference surface.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a manner to allow the image-stabilizing optical element to move in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, the guide device including at least one mechanical movement limit preventing movement of the image-stabilizing optical element in a guide direction; a driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element in the plane; and a drive controller which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element within an image-stabilizing movement range so as not to reach the mechanical movement limit for correction of image shake during an image stabilizing operation, and which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element to a standby position located outside of the image-stabilizing movement range in the guide direction, when the image stabilizer changes from an operating state to a non-operating state.

Abstract: An optical apparatus including an electrical component which is movable in a plane, and a flexible printed wiring board in the shape of a strip, the widthwise direction thereof being parallel to the plane, which connects the electrical component to a stationary board, wherein the flexible printed wiring board includes a folded extension portion which firstly extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane and is subsequently folded back at a folded portion to extend in a direction opposite thereto; and at least one slit which is provided to pass through the folded portion and to split at least a part of the folded extension portion into at least two split portions thereof in the widthwise direction of the flexible printed wiring board.

Abstract: A flexible printed wiring board arrangement of an imaging device, includes an image pickup device fixing member to which an image pickup device is fixed; a holding member which holds the image pickup device fixing member; an inclination angle adjusting mechanism for changing an inclination angle of the image pickup device fixing member relative to the holding member; a flexible printed wiring board which extends from the image pickup device; and a flexible printed wiring board support member which is fixed to the holding member at a position behind the image pickup device fixing member, a part of the flexible printed wiring board being in contact with the flexible printed wiring board support member.

Abstract: A flexible printed wiring board arrangement of an imaging device includes an image pickup device movable in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; a flexible printed wiring board extending from the image pickup device; and a movable support member which is positioned behind the image pickup device in the optical axis direction to support the flexible printed wiring board, wherein the movable support member moves with the image pickup device in directions orthogonal to the optical axis when the image pickup device is moved, a part of the flexible printed wiring board being disposed along a front surface of the movable support member behind the image pickup device.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a first moving stage supported by a stationary member movable in a first direction in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; a second moving stage holding an image-stabilizing optical element and supported by the first moving member to be movable in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction; and first and second driving devices which are supported by the stationary member and drive the first and second moving stages in the first and second directions, respectively. The second driving device includes a moving element which is moved in the second direction, and a linkage portion which associatively links the second moving stage and the moving element to each other in a manner to allow the second moving stage and the moving element to move relative to each other in the first direction.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a guide direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element so as to counteract image shake, including a first moving element moved by a drive source; a second moving element movable relative to the first moving element, and applies a moving force to a holder holding the image-stabilizing optical element when the second moving element is moved by the first moving element; and a moving-element control mechanism which resiliently connects the first and second moving elements to each other to allow the first and second moving elements to selectively move integrally and relative to each other in accordance with a magnitude of a resistance to a movement between the drive source and the holder.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a pair of first parallel guide rods mounted to a stationary member extending in a first direction; a first moving stage supported by the first parallel guide rods to be movable in the first direction; a pair of second parallel guide rods mounted to the first moving stage extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a second moving stage which holds an image-stabilizing optical element and supported by the second parallel guide rods to be movable in the second direction; first and second biasing devices which bias the first and second moving stages in the first and second directions; first and second driving devices which drive the first and second moving stages in the first and second directions. The pair of first and second parallel guide rods lie in a common plane orthogonal to an optical axis.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis and an image shake counteracting driving device, the image shake counteracting driving device including a drive source; a first moving element; a second moving element capable of transferring a moving force of the first moving element to a holder which holds the image-stabilizing optical element; and a mutual guiding device which couples the first and second moving elements to allow the first and second moving elements to move relative to each other in the guide direction. The mutual guiding device includes two first slidable portions provided at two different positions in a direction orthogonal to the guide direction, respectively; and one second slidable portion provided at a position different from the positions of the two first slidable portions in the guide direction.

Abstract: There is provided a camera including a camera body having an inner space, a cover mounted to said camera body to open and close said inner space, and an operation member movably mounted to said cover. The operation member is manually operable from outside said camera. The camera further includes at least one switch provided in said camera body, and a motion transmitting mechanism provided between the at least one switch and the operation member. The motion transmitting mechanism is provided to the camera such that it switches a status of the at least one switch in response to an operation of said operation member.

Abstract: A viewfinder for a camera with an adjustable diopter includes an objective lens and an eyepiece lens each having an optical axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the camera. Light rays from the objective lens are reflected by a mirror and directed in one direction parallel to a transverse axis of the camera onto a focusing screen to form an object image. A first triangular prism receives light rays from the object image and reflects and directs the received light rays in opposite direction parallel to the transverse axis. A second triangular prism receives light rays from the first prism and reflects and directs the received light rays in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and toward the eyepiece lens. The first prism is supported and guided for linear displacement along the transverse axis, while the second prism is fixed to the body frame of the camera.