Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member that has a substantially circular or polygonal plate-shape and that includes a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined length in a radial direction from the center thereof, and that is opposed to the front of an optical device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. A sealing structure is arranged outside a peripheral portion of the optical device or an adjacent portion thereof, and forms a substantially sealed space portion including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member which has a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted among beams incident from a photographing lens and which absorbs an infrared component, opposed to the front of an image pick-up device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. And a sealing structure portion is arranged at a portion formed by opposing the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member, for sealing a space portion that is substantially sealed at peripheral portions of the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member that has a substantially circular or polygonal plate-shape and that includes a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined length in a radial direction from the center thereof, and that is opposed to the front of an optical device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. A sealing structure is arranged outside a peripheral portion of the optical device or an adjacent portion thereof, and forms a substantially sealed space portion including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member.

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 1, a pallet stocker 3 is constituted so that any pallet placing pedestal 5 can be brought to a delivery position where a pallet is delivered and received to/from an arm 2, and the arm 2 can be moved between a first position where pallets are exchanged in the working machine main body 21 and a second position where a pallet is delivered and received at the delivery position of the pallet stocker 3. 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: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member which has a transparent portion through which a visible light component is transmitted among beams incident from a photographing lens and which absorbs an infrared component, opposed to the front of an image pick-up device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member, and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. And a sealing structure portion is arranged at a portion formed by opposing the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member, for sealing a space portion that is substantially sealed at peripheral portions of the image pick-up device and the dust-proofing member.

Abstract: An image apparatus is disclosed, in which ions generated by an ion generator are forcibly moved along a dust-proof member for protecting an image surface from dust to remove dust adhering to the surface of the dust-proof member. An exemplary structure of the image apparatus of the present invention is as follows. An image apparatus comprises: an image surface on which the optical image is formed; a dust-proof member having a transparent portion in a region corresponding to the image surface, the transparent portion arranged to face the image surface with a predetermined space therebetween; an ion generator provided near the dust-proof member to generate negative or positive ions; and a transport part for moving ions generated by the ion generator along the surface of the dust-proof member.

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 optical apparatus (camera) having dust-off function comprises a dust-off glass (optical element) located between an image-pickup element and optical system (lens) for forming an image on the light receiving surface of the element. A camera includes a mechanism (piezoelectric element and drive circuit) that controls vibrating operation so that the frequency of vibration waves generated in the glass changes with the passage of time. A camera includes first vibrator (piezoelectric element) for successive vibration with frequencies, a circuit monitoring the state of vibration of the optical element during vibrating operation of the first vibrator, thereby detecting the resonance frequency of the element, and second vibrator (piezoelectric element) for vibration with the detected resonance frequency or a frequency approximate to it.

Abstract: A mirror apparatus has a reflecting surface to reflect an incident luminous flux. A fixed member has a plurality of driving electrodes on a surface of the fixed member. A movable member is formed with the reflecting surface on one side, and capable of escaping out of the optical path of the incident luminous flux along the fixed member. A driving circuit is capable of applying a voltage to the driving electrodes to generate an electrostatic force between the driving electrodes and movable members. A control circuit supplies a control signal to the driving circuit to change the electrostatic force acted on the movable member.

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 shutter device comprising a fixed member which has a plurality of electrodes arranged on a surface, a light-transmitting region which is provided in the fixed member, a light-shielding member which is able to move between two positions where the light-transmitting region is closed and opened, respectively, and which have a plurality of electret parts, and a drive circuit which periodically applies a voltage to the electrodes provided on the fixed member, thereby to generate an electrostatic force acting on the electret parts of the light-shielding member and to drive the light-shielding member.

Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes a housing, a rotor, a bearing member, a bending-vibration driving transducer having a support shaft and two driving elements and serving as an actuator, and a leaf spring having a pressing protrusion. The transducer is slidable in an opening of the housing along a rotation axis direction of the rotor, and a support shaft of the transducer is rotatably supported and inserted. The transducer is held while being urged by the leaf spring and being in contact with the rotor. Since the transducer is urged by the pressing protrusion of the leaf spring, the leaf spring is in complete contact with the transducer without edge contact so that the two driving elements are evenly in contact with the rotor in a direction perpendicular to the frictional contact surface, thus providing driving conditions of superior conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes a housing, a rotor, a bearing member, a vibrator serving as an actuator and having a support shaft and a driving element, and a leaf spring having a pressing protrusion. The vibrator is slidably disposed in an opening of the housing along a rotation axis direction of the rotor, and a support shaft of the vibrator is rotatable. The vibrator is held while being urged by the leaf spring and being in contact with the rotor. The vibrator is excited to generate supersonic vibration so that the rotor is rotated. Since the vibrator is movably supported by the housing in the rotation axis direction and the vibrator is urged by the leaf spring and is in contact with a friction contact surface of the rotor, the vibrator is evenly in contact with the rotor in a direction perpendicular to the friction contact surface so as to provide superior driving conditions of the vibration wave motor.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic imaging device having an imaging element, a mechanism which removes dust attached to the imaging element or an optical element disposed in front of the imaging element, and a display section which displays that at least the mechanism is operating. Consequently, an operator of the electronic imaging device can exactly recognize whether or not the mechanism to remove the dust is operating. Examples of the mechanism which removes the dust include an excitation mechanism which vibrates a dustproof filter disposed in front of the imaging element, a mechanism which removes the dust by a gas flow and the like.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light from a taking lens is reflected by a quick return mirror in a lateral direction of a body unit. Then, after passing through a screen, the light is reflected toward an upper side of the body unit by a second mirror except part of the light. The light reflected by the second mirror is reflected by a third mirror in a direction opposite to a direction in which the light is reflected by the quick return mirror, and is further reflected by a fourth mirror toward an eyepiece located on a back side of the body unit. Part of the light which passing though the screen is taken by an AF sensor unit provided in rear of the second mirror, and an image formation position of an optical image is detected.

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.

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.

Abstract: A driving device in a lens barrel unit of a lens unit drives advancing/retreating of a lens frame holding a lens, and manual focusing. The lens frame is supported freely movably back and forth by an internal driving ring turned and driven when automatic focusing. The internal driving ring is supported by a distance ring so as to be turned and driven via an external driving ring supported turnably by a fixing frame. An operating ring is fixed on the perimeter of the distance ring, and manual focusing driving is performed by turning the operating ring. A transducer of an ultrasonic actuator is pressed against the end face of the distance ring via a driver, frictional contact force between the distance ring and the driver is adjusted by applying flexion standing wave vibration to the transducer, and the amount of turning operating force of the operating ring can be increased/decreased over a wide range.

Abstract: A camera system according to the present invention includes an image pickup device having an imaging surface of an imaging range with a predetermined aspect ratio, the image circle being set larger than the imaging range to include the imaging range therein, a mount portion to which the interchangeable lens is mounted, and an opening portion having an opening for allowing luminous flux from the interchangble lens to pass through, being located at a position spaced from the imaging surface by a predetermined distance, wherein the size of the opening of the opening portion is equal to or larger than a square formed by connecting ends of segments tilted by an angle ? with respect to an optical axis diagonally from four corners of the imaging range and extended to the opening of the opening portion, and the angle ? satisfies: 12 degrees??, wherein a distance between the opening of the opening portion and the imaging surface, herein referred to as flash back (FB), is: 35 mm?FB?50 mm

Abstract: A digital camera system including a plurality of digital cameras, each including a plurality of interchangeable-lens barrels having the same specification, a standard camera body allowing the interchangeable-lens barrel to be attached thereto, or another non-standard camera body. The standard camera body includes an image pickup element having a standard pixel pitch and a first optical unit including an optical low-pass filter. The non-standard camera body includes an image pickup element having a pixel pitch different from the standard 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 for compensating for a variation in an optical path length with respect to the first optical low-pass filter.