Abstract: A digital still camera includes a camera main unit and a lens barrel fitted thereon in a removable manner. First electric contacts in a group are disposed on the camera main unit. Second electric contacts in a group are disposed on the lens barrel, for electric contact with the first electric contacts upon mounting of the lens barrel on the camera main unit, and for communication between those. The camera main unit includes a connector, having the first electric contacts, and coupled with a camera front face in an openable manner. The lens barrel includes a cavity, having the second electric contacts, for receiving insertion of the connector opened in a forward direction. The first electric contacts are disposed on a rear surface positioned internally when the connector is closed. Furthermore, a retaining mechanism retains the connector being inserted in the cavity.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens unit and a camera body. The lens unit has a photographing lens, and a CCD for image pickup by detecting object light from the photographing lens. The camera body has a lens mount portion adapted to loading of the lens unit, and a camera contact for electrical connection with the lens unit. The lens unit has a lens unit coupling portion, engageable with the lens mount portion, for removable loading on the camera body. A lens connection contact touches the camera contact when the lens mount portion is engaged with the lens unit coupling portion, for electrical connection. A circuit board is connected with the CCD, has a first surface opposed to the camera body. The lens connection contact is mounted on the first surface. In preferred embodiment, a bayonet mechanism couples the lens unit coupling portion with the lens mount portion.

Abstract: To provide a digital camera that captures object light with a solid-state image pickup device to generate an image signal and is effectively made thinner by retracting a part of a taking lens into a suitable position when a lens barrel is collapsed. A rear lens group is rotated between a position on an optical axis and a retracted position in a recess section at the side of a CCD solid-state image pickup device, and a focusing lens is rotated between a position on the optical axis and a retracted position in a front lens group side space. When the lens barrel is collapsed, the rear lens group is placed in the recess section, and the focusing lens is placed in the front lens group side space.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A second lens group is revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, so that the second lens group comes into the hollow portion at the time of the collapse.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element, having first and second ends, for expansion or contraction to shift in response to a drive signal. A drive shaft is frictionally engaged with an engageable portion of a lens unit, has first and second axial ends, for shifting together with the piezoelectric element by contact between the first end and the first axial end, to move the engageable portion linearly upon expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element with a difference between its expanding and contracting speeds. A retaining frame includes a first support panel, provided with the second end secured thereto, for supporting the piezoelectric element. A second support panel is provided with the second axial end secured thereto, for supporting the drive shaft. A biasing panel portion of the second support panel biases the drive shaft to press the first axial end on the first end of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A camera has a lens system that includes a lens barrel incorporating therein an image taking lens, the lens barrel being variable in a barrel length between a collapsed state in which the barrel length is relative short and a photographic state in which the barrel length is relative long. The lens barrel comprises a light quantity control member that controls quantity of photographic light passing through the image taking lens, and a light quantity control member saving and advancing mechanism that provides such a control that when the lens barrel changes over from the photographic state to the collapsed state, the light quantity control member is saved from a photographic optical axis, and when the lens barrel changes over from the collapsed state to the photographic state, the light quantity control member is advanced to the photographic optical axis.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness in such a manner that a part of image taking lenses is saved to a suitable position at the time of the collapse. Both the rear elements lens and the focus lens are revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, or between the position on the optical axis and a saving position in which the front elements lens, the rear elements lens and focus lens form a line substantially on a plane.

Abstract: A camera has a shutter release button, held in an initial position, that is movable from the initial position to a full-pressed position via a half-pressed position. The camera has three detectors for detecting that the shutter release button is in the initial, half-pressed and full-pressed positions respectively. When the first detector detects that the shutter release button is displaced from the initial position, it is determined that the shutter release is being activated, so the camera starts preparatory operations for shooting. When the second detector detects the shutter release button in the half-pressed position, the camera completes preparatory operations for shooting. When the third detector detects that shutter release button in the full-pressed position, the camera carries out an actual shutter release to write image data on a memory card.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator having a frame portion includes a drive shaft for frictional engagement with an engageable barrel arm of a lens unit. First and second piezoelectric elements are supported on the frame portion, and provided with first and second ends of respectively the drive shaft. A drive pulse generator supplies the piezoelectric elements with a drive signal to expand or contract the piezoelectric elements, and moves the engageable barrel arm in an axial direction by an alternately repeating sequence of shifting the drive shaft at low and high speeds in the axial direction. In the shifting at the high speed, the piezoelectric elements shift the drive shaft in a backward direction quickly, to move the drive shaft in the backward direction relative to the engageable barrel arm being stationary with inertial force.

Abstract: A lens frame holding a taking lens is movably connected to a driving shaft via a connector. A guide member is disposed at a lower portion of the lens frame so as to separate from the connector by about 180 degrees around an optical axis. The guide member is movably attached to a guide rod. A light emitter is disposed on a lateral side of the lens frame so as to separate from the connector by about 90 degrees around the optical axis. The light emitter applies the light to a light receiver of a line sensor confronting the light emitter. The line sensor sends a light-reception signal, which is outputted from the light receiver, to a lens-position controller. Positional information of the taking lens is obtained on the basis of the light-reception signal so that a position of the taking lens is accurately detected.

Abstract: A camera has a photometry section. The photometry section measures brightness of field when an aperture member is of a predetermined first aperture caliber which is a relatively large aperture caliber, and measures the brightness of field in halfway through change over of the aperture member from the first aperture caliber to a predetermined second aperture caliber which is relatively smaller than the first aperture caliber when a photometry of the brightness of field is impossible because of an exposure over with the first aperture caliber.

Abstract: An imaging device moves a taking lens in an optical-axis direction by a hollow stepping motor of a claw-pole type comprising a disk-shaped hollow magnet and stators. The magnet is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The stators are respectively adjacent to both surfaces of the magnet in the optical-axis direction. When the magnet is rotated, attractive force caused by the respective stators is applied in the optical axis direction. It is prevented that the magnet and a rotary barrel are attracted in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Thus, electric power consumption is prevented from increasing due to friction with upper and lower covers, and abnormal noise is prevented from occurring due to the friction.

Abstract: There is provided an intermediate adapter having a camera shake correction function, in which an exchange head provided with an image taking optical system and an imaging device is applicable to a camera system, and a camera system having the intermediate adapter. The exchange head is mounted on the intermediate adapter having a head driving section, and the exchange head mounted on the intermediate adapter is mounted on a camera main frame. The head driving section drives the exchange head in accordance with a detection signal detected by a camera shake detection section of the intermediate adapter.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a camera head capable of efficiently radiating heat generated by heat sources in the camera head even if it is equipped with a dust-proofing and drip-proofing structure. A heat radiating member having a higher heat conductivity than the heat conductivity of the lens barrel is disposed farther backward in the direction of the optical axis than the lens barrel. Heat generated in a CPU is transferred to the heat radiating member through a mount section, and heat generated in a CCD is transferred to the heat radiating member through the lens barrel. Since the outer circumference of the heat radiating member is always in contact with the external atmosphere, it is maintained at the temperature level of the external atmosphere, and the heat generated in the CPU and the CCD is efficiently radiated into the outer space.

Abstract: A first prism 11a and a second prism 12a are joined together on a face-to-face basis. A dichroic mirror 13a is interposed into the junction plane to reflect only G-light. A first imaging device 111a receives the reflected light (G-light) with high sensitivity. In this manner, there is constructed an inexpensive light receiving unit 10a having the same visual sensitivity characteristic as eyes of a person. The light receiving unit 10a is disposed in an image taking apparatus.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a solid state imaging device is used to catch subject light so that an image signal is created. The digital camera contributes to effectively implementing further thinness as compare with the conventional ones. A focus lens is revolved between a position on the optical axis and a saving position coming into a hollow portion beside the CCD solid state imaging device, so that the focus lens comes into the hollow portion at the time of the collapse.

Abstract: A heat sink is attached to a subject-side end portion of a barrel body of a lens barrel. The heat sink is provided with a large number of radiation fins formed in whorl. A heat pipe is disposed between the heat sink and a mount-side end portion of the barrel body. A CCD is fixed to the mount-side end portion of the barrel body. Heat of the CCD is transferred to the heat pipe via the mount-side end portion. Successively, the heat is efficiently transferred to the heat sink by the heat pipe. The heat having been transferred to the heat sink is efficiently radiated into the air by the whorl-like radiation fins regardless of conditions of the lens barrel.