Abstract: A vibrating device includes first and second members, each shaped almost, like a rectangle and composed of first and second parts, a connection member composed of a first circuit which inputs an electrical signal to the first part, a second circuit, which outputs an electrical signal generated in the second part, and a connection part which connects the first and second circuits electrically, and a drive unit which drives the first and second members while the first and second circuits remain connected by the connection part. The first and second members are shaped symmetrically to one another in weight balance with respect to a virtual symmetry axis at the same distance from the first and second members and also to an virtual centerline connecting gravity centers of the first and second members. The second member is shaped asymmetrically in vibrational amplitude with respect to its vibrational axis.

Abstract: A drive unit inputs an electrical signal to the first and second vibrating members to generate, in a light-transmitting region of a dust-screening member, vibration forming peak ridges defining a closed curve around a first virtual intersection of an virtual symmetry axis at the same distance from the first and second vibrating members and a vibrational axis for both first and second vibrating members, the vibration gradually increasing as the amplitude of each vibrational peak approaches the first virtual intersection, and having a maximum amplitude at the vibrational peak including the first virtual intersection. The drive unit controls the electrical signal to move the vibrational axes of the first and second vibrating members on the virtual symmetry axis and to change the first virtual intersection to a second virtual intersection and moving a vibrational peak of maximum vibrational amplitude to a position including the second virtual intersection.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a fixed member, a first movable member, a second movable member, and a position sensor. The fixed member includes a first actuator arranged near a first side of an imaging device in parallel with the first side. The first movable member includes a second actuator arranged near a second side perpendicular to the first side in parallel with the second side and moves, when driven by the first actuator, in the direction of the first side. The second movable member has the imaging device mounted thereon and moves, when driven by the second actuator, in the direction of the second side. The position sensor detects the relative position of the imaging device moved by the first and second actuators. The first and second actuators are located near an intersection of the longitudinal axes of them not to interfere with each other.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member shaped like a plate as a whole, a vibrating member arranged outside the dust-screening member and configured to produce, at the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to a surface of the dust-screening member, a counter member spaced apart from that surface of the dust-screening member, on which the vibrating member is arranged, a pushing member configured to push the dust-screening member onto the counter member, and a first support member arranged between the counter member and the dust-screening member, surrounding a center of the dust-screening member, and configured to support the dust-screening member when pushed by the pushing member. The first support member is pushed with a pressure of 2 N or less when the pushing member pushes the first support member.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-forming element; an optical element including a light-transmitting portion disposed so as to face an image surface of the image-forming element; a vibration-application member arranged at a position other than a position of the light-transmitting portion of the optical element, for vibrating a surface of the optical element and inside of the optical element; and a vibration-absorption member arranged at a position opposed to the vibration-application member, for absorbing a part of vibration of the optical element in a predetermined cycle, wherein when a wavelength of vibration generated in the optical element by vibration of the vibration-application member is defined as ?, and an odd number as k, the vibration-application member and the vibration-absorption member are arranged separately from each other at positions on the optical element such that a distance between centers of the members is expressed by k×?/4.

Abstract: In a digital camera system, a lens barrel adapted to a first camera body can be attached to a second camera body having a flange focal length which is shorter than that of the first camera body via an intermediate adapter, and the intermediate adapter is interposed to thereby set the flange focal length to be equal. Moreover, a compensating optical device is incorporated in the intermediate adapter to thereby match an optical distance from a mount surface to an image capture surface of the first camera body with an optical distance from a mount surface of the intermediate adapter to an image capture surface of the second camera body in a state in which the intermediate adapter is attached.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a drive unit configured to drive a vibrating member to produce vibration Z (x, y) at a dust-screening member, the vibration being expressed as follows: Z(x,y)=Wmn(x,y)·cos(?)+Wnm(x,y)·sin(?) where Z (x, y) is vibration at a given point P (x, y) on the dust-screening member, m and n are positive integers including 0, indicating the order of natural vibration corresponding to a vibrational mode, W mn ? ( x , y ) = sin ? ( n ? ? ? · x + ? 2 ) · sin ? ( m ? ? ? · y + ? 2 ) , ? W nm ? ( x , y ) = sin ? ( m ? ? ? · x + ? 2 ) · sin ? ( n ? ? ? · y + ? 2 ) , and ? is +?/4 or ranges from ??/8 to ??/4. The dust-screening member is shaped such that the ratio of length of either short side to either long side of a virtual rectangle is 0.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a drive unit configured to drive a vibrating member to produce vibration Z (x, y) at a dust-screening member, the vibration being expressed as follows: Z(x,y)=Wmn(x,y)·cos(?)+Wnm(x,y)·sin(?) where Z (x, y) is vibration at a given point P (x, y) on the dust-screening member, m and n are positive integers including 0, indicating the order of natural vibration corresponding to a vibrational mode, W mn ? ( x , y ) = sin ? ( n ? ? ? · x + ? 2 ) · sin ? ( m ? ? ? · y + ? 2 ) , ? W n ? ? m ? ( x , y ) = sin ? ( m ? ? ? · x + ? 2 ) · sin ? ( n ? ? ? · y + ? 2 ) , and ? is +?/4 or ranges from ??/8 to ??/4.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member which is shaped like a plate as a whole and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a symmetry axis, and a vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to produce, at the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to a surface of the dust-screening member.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a drive unit configured to drive a vibrating member to produce vibration Z(x,y) at a dust-screening member, the vibration being expressed as follows: Z(x,y)=Wmn(x,y)·cos(?)+Wnm(x,y)·sin(?) where Z(x,y) is vibration at a given point P(x,y) on the dust-screening member, m and n are positive integers including 0, indicating the order of natural vibration corresponding to a vibrational mode, W mn ? ( x , y ) = sin ? ( n ? ? ? · x + ? 2 ) · sin ? ( m ? ? ? · y + ? 2 ) , ? W nm ? ( x , y ) = sin ? ( m ? ? ? · x + ? 2 ) · sin ? ( n ? ? ? · y + ? 2 ) , and ? is +?/4 or ranges from ??/8 to ??/4. LP/LF is 0.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes: a first member including a first linear groove; a second member including a second linear groove; a plurality of first rolling bodies held between the first and the second linear grooves; a pressing member for pressing the first and second members; a pressing force applying member for pressing the pressing member; and second rolling bodies arranged on the same plane between the second member and the pressing member. A third linear groove for guiding the second rolling bodies is formed on one of the second member and the pressing member. At least one or more of the second rolling bodies are arranged on both sides of the central axis of the first rolling bodies, and the pressing force applying member applies a pressing force to the second rolling bodies such that rotational moment around the axis line is zero.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member shaped like a plate as a whole, a first vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to cause, when driven alone, the dust-screening member to undergo first standing-wave vibration, and a second vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to cause, when driven alone, the dust-screening member to undergo second standing-wave vibration. The first vibrating member and the second vibrating member are so positioned that the first standing-wave vibration and second standing-wave vibration produced by the first and second vibrating members, respectively, overlap each other, thus producing a travelling wave propagating in one direction and having nodes regions at an outer circumferential edge of the dust-screening member, the node regions having virtually no vibrational amplitude.

Abstract: A dust removal camera which has an image pickup sensor which converts an optical image into an electric signal, a shutter which opens/closes an optical path to the image pickup sensor, an optical plate provided between the image pickup sensor and the shutter, and rectangularly formed, and a piezoelectric body provided to extend along an end portion of a surface of the optical plate, and to vibrate the optical plate.

Abstract: An electronic imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical system which forms an optical image of an object. A photoelectric conversion element converts the optical image into an electric signal. The optical element is arranged between the imaging optical system and the photoelectric conversion element. An excitation unit vibrates the optical element at a set frequency, and vibrates the optical element at least in an imaging operation of the photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A digital camera of the invention includes: an image pickup device; a dust-proof filter including an area disposed so as to face an image pickup surface of the image pickup device with a predetermined distance; a piezoelectric device for vibration application for vibrating not only a surface of the dust-proof filter but also inside of the dust-proof filter; and a piezoelectric device for vibration absorption for absorbing a part of vibration of the dust-proof filter in a predetermined cycle. When a wavelength of vibration generated in the dust-proof filter by vibration of the piezoelectic device for vibration application is defined as ?, and an odd number as k, the piezoelectric device for vibration application and the piezoelectric device for vibration absorption are arranged separately from each other at positions on the dust-proof filter such that a distance between centers of the devices is expressed by k×?/4.

Abstract: A camera includes a dust-proofing member which has a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted. The transparent portion is opposed to the front of an image pick-up device at a predetermined interval. A vibration member is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and vibrates the dust-proofing member. A sealing part seals a space between the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member. And a spring pressing member presses the dust-proofing member at a periphery thereof toward the sealing part.

Abstract: A digital camera system including a plurality of digital cameras, each including a plurality of interchangeable-lens barrels having the same specification, a first camera body allowing the interchangeable-lens barrel to be attached thereto, or a second camera body. The first camera body includes an image pickup element having a first pixel pitch and a first optical unit including an optical low-pass filter with a thickness based on the pixel pitch. The second camera body includes an image pickup element having a second pixel pitch smaller than the first pixel pitch, and a second optical unit including a second optical low-pass filter. The second optical low-pass filter includes a crystal plate as a depolarization plate of a thickness so that the optical path length of the second camera body is substantially equal to the optical path of the first optical low-pass filter.

Abstract: A pallet exchanging device is provided which can secure a sufficient working space and can cope with a multi-phase pallet exchanging system without increasing the size of the device. In a pallet exchanging device, a pallet stocker is constituted so that any pallet placing pedestal can be brought to a delivery position where a pallet is delivered and received to/from an arm, and the arm can be moved between a first position where pallets are exchanged in the working machine main body and a second position where a pallet is delivered and received at the delivery position of the pallet stocker. When the arm is moved to the second position, a space for a worker is provided on a front side of a work carry-in port.

Abstract: An X-axis driving mechanism section as one of driving sources of a driving apparatus including: a transducer for generating an elliptical vibration on a driving section in response to application of a predetermined frequency voltage signal; a bottom case having a holding section for holding the transducer; a pressing mechanism arranged on the bottom case to press the driving section of the transducer; and a rod relatively driven by the elliptical vibration of the transducer while being pressed by the pressing mechanism and with a moving direction being restricted by a guiding section of the holding member; wherein a weight is fixed to an end portion of the rod. The X-axis driving mechanism section constitutes the driving apparatus which is small and provides a large driving force, is capable of stable driving with higher efficiency without producing audible noise, and can retain the rod position and has high responsiveness with high accuracy.

Abstract: A camera provided with a lens assembly, a CCD and a circuit for applying a signal which is disposed between the lens assembly and the CCD, where the circuit for applying a signal is vibrated.