Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a camera system which also includes a conventional single-lens reflex function. A camera head 10 includes a finder support section 10B which detachably supports an optical finder unit. If the optical finder unit 12 is attached to the finder support section 10B, the camera becomes a camera system having a single-lens reflex function. In the camera head, a half mirror 103 is provided on the optical path of an image pickup lens 101. A subject reflected by the half mirror 103 is formed on the side of a finder unit 12. A subject light passing through the half mirror 103 is formed on an image pickup device 102. That is, the camera becomes a single-lens reflex camera in which the half mirror 103 is used for a reflex plate.

Abstract: A lens unit has a photographing lens, and is secured removably to a camera main body. An accessory conversion lens device is settable on the lens unit. The lens unit includes a reception unit for receiving accessory device data from the conversion lens device. A determiner checks propriety of the conversion lens device according to accessory device data received by the reception unit, and produces checking information. A transmission unit transmits the checking information to the main body. Specifically, the lens unit has an image pickup element. Also, the conversion lens device includes an RFID tag for storing the accessory device data. The reception unit includes an RFID tag reader for wireless reception. Also, the main body includes an LCD panel to display for outputting alarm information. A main body controller drives the LCD panel if the checking information represents lack of the propriety.

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.

Abstract: An image sensor module is composed of a base, a CCD image sensor, a glass plate, and a gasket. The base has a chip chamber with an opening, in which the CCD image sensor is contained. The glass plate is bonded by an adhesive layer to a top surface of the base, and covers the opening. The gasket is held between the base and the glass plate. The gasket is disposed inside the adhesive layer and seals the chip chamber tightly, so that moisture in the surrounding air does not enter the chip chamber.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor chip and a package for containing the image sensor chip. Formed in the package is a vent hole that is connected to an air pump. In a light receiving area of the image sensor chip, there are photodiodes and microlenses above them. The microlenses are made of a gel-like transparent material. When the internal air pressure of the package is changed by the air pump, each microlens transforms in response to the change of the internal air pressure, and thereby changes the surface curvature thereof.

Abstract: An image sensor module is composed of a base, a CCD image sensor, a glass plate, and a frame-shaped moisture permeable member. The base has a depressed chip chamber, in which the CCD image sensor is contained. Top and under surfaces of the moisture permeable member are provided with adhesive layers. The base and the glass plate are attached above and below the moisture permeable member through the adhesive layers, and the chip chamber is sealed. The moisture permeable member has the property to block liquid water while transmit water vapor, and releases the water vapor produced by the heat of the CCD image sensor from the inside to the outside of the chip chamber.

Abstract: A main frame adapter is detachably mounted, instead of a camera head, on a camera main frame from which the camera head is separated. The camera head comprises an image taking optical system and an imaging device. The camera main frame is adapted to receive an image signal from the camera head that is detachably mounted on the camera main frame. A head adapter that is detachably mounted, instead of the camera main frame, on the camera head separated from the camera main frame. Both the adapters have each the radio communication section.

Abstract: A lens barrel assembly for use with a digital still camera includes an outer barrel having a front end and a rear end. An inner barrel is inserted in the outer barrel in an optical axis direction. The outer barrel moves forwards relative to the inner barrel, to shift between a short size position and a long size position, and when in the short size position, shifts from the inner barrel at a smallest shifting amount, and when in the long size position, shifts from the inner barrel at a largest shifting amount. A vent is formed in the outer barrel, and disposed close to the front end. A filter is water-impermeable and air-permeable, and secured to the vent in a closed manner. Also, a vent cover is secured to the outer barrel, for covering the vent.

Abstract: A camera system is composed of a lens unit and a camera body. The lens unit has a built-in CCD. A magnet is embedded in a protrusion of the lens unit. A case of the camera body is made of a magnetic material. In virtue of this, it is possible to attach the lens unit to any position of the camera body on condition that functions of the camera body are not disturbed by the lens unit. Incidentally, a cable is utilized to perform data transmission and electric-power transfer between the lens unit and the camera body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system including a camera head and a camera body provided with a disengagement operation detecting section and a recording control section. The disengagement operation detecting section detects operation of disengaging the camera head from the camera body in the state where image information can be transmitted from the camera head to the camera body. The recording control section stops recording of image information in response to operation of disengaging the camera head from the camera body being detected by the disengagement operation detecting section.

Abstract: A lens barrel assembly for use with a digital still camera includes an outer barrel having a front end and a rear end. An inner barrel is inserted in the outer barrel in an optical axis direction. The outer barrel moves forwards relative to the inner barrel, to shift between a short size position and a long size position, and when in the short size position, shifts from the inner barrel at a smallest shifting amount, and when in the long size position, shifts from the inner barrel at a largest shifting amount. A vent is formed in the outer barrel, and disposed close to the front end. A filter is water-impermeable and air-permeable, and secured to the vent in a closed manner. Also, a vent cover is secured to the outer barrel, for covering the vent.

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: A lens barrel has its collapsed length that can be further decreased by removing unnecessary space and bringing lens groups close to each other and a photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel. When the lens barrel is collapsed, at least a fourth lens group is retracted from a photographic optical axis by an advance/retract mechanism. In that case, a first lens group and third lens group are aligned along the optical axis and stuffed into the lens barrel, the fourth lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of these lenses, and a second lens group is placed on the top, bottom, right, or left side of the first and third lens groups. This reduces the length of the lens barrel. During extension, the second and fourth lens groups are advanced onto the photographic optical axis by the advance/retract mechanism to extend the lens barrel greatly.

Abstract: A first drive shaft is disposed with a first piezoelectric element at one end and a second piezoelectric element at the other end. A second drive shaft is disposed with the second piezoelectric element at one end and a third piezoelectric element at the other end. First and second lens holding frames are frictionally engaged with the first and second drive shafts respectively in a slidable manner. The first, second and third piezoelectric elements are expanded and contracted according to a drive signal and move the first and second lens holding frames in an axial direction respectively. When the moving velocity of the first and second lens holding frames are reduced, the phase difference between the drive signals, which are output to the respective piezoelectric elements, is adjusted so that the moving velocity becomes higher.

Abstract: A stepping motor comprises first to third coil portions and first to second rotors. The first rotor has a cylindrical shape and a circumferential surface thereof is magnetically-polarized so as to alternately arrange south poles and north poles. The first rotor is disposed inside the first and second coil portions, and is rotated by magnetic fields generated at a time when the first and second coil portions are energized. The second rotor has a disk shape and a surface thereof is magnetically polarized so as to alternately arrange south poles and north poles. The second rotor is disposed such that edge areas of both surfaces thereof are interposed between the second and third coil portions. The second rotor is rotated by magnetic fields generated at a time when the second and third coil portions are energized.

Abstract: To provide a digital camera which is thinner than conventional when a lens barrel is collapsed, and is improved in suppression of degradation of image quality due to dust or the like introduced into the lens barrel. A lens barrel has: an optical-member advancement/retraction mechanism that retracts any of plural optical members from an optical axis for picture taking when the lens barrel is collapsed, and advances the optical member, which is retracted when the lens barrel is collapsed, onto the optical axis for picture taking when the lens barrel is extended; and a cleaning member that cleans at least either of the optical member or one, which is adjacent to the optical member, of the plural optical members and a solid-state image pickup section as a result of retracting or advancing the optical member by the optical-member retraction/advancement mechanism.

Abstract: A camera has a shutter release button that is held in an initial position while being not pressed, and is movable from the initial position to a full-pressed position via a half-pressed position. The camera is provided with first to third detectors for detecting that the shutter release button is in the initial position, in the half-pressed position and in the full-pressed position respectively. When the first detector detects that the shutter release button is displaced from the initial position, the shutter release button is considered to start being pressed down, so the camera starts preparatory operations for shooting, like photometry. When the second detector detects that the shutter release button reaches the half-pressed position, the camera completes the preparatory operations for shooting by carrying out aperture control and focusing.

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 lens barrel has its length which is reduced by dispensing with guide rods or a travel mechanism long extending from a base which fixes an image pickup device. The optical axes of multiple lens groups can be easily aligned. An image taking apparatus has its body which has the lens barrel incorporated into it. A second lens group, third lens group and, via the travel mechanism, a fourth lens group are supported by a straight-ahead key ring, and the straight-ahead key ring also supports a front tube holding the first lens group. A zoom motor and a focus motor are also supported by the straight-ahead key ring.

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.