Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) apparatus comprises an eccentric rotary (ER) cam fixed to a driving shaft for rotation therewith, a pivotal valve operating (VO) cam, a rocker arm having a first arm and a second arm, a control rod having an eccentric control cam, and a crank arm. The eccentric control cam supports the rocker arm for pivotal motion. The crank arm interconnects the ER cam and the first arm of the rocker arm. A link interconnects the second arm of the rocker arm and the VO cam.

Abstract: A camera which prevents accidents which could lead to damage to the shutter when performing shutter time tests in the opened state of the back cover of a camera. The camera has a shutter to limit the exposure time of the recording medium which has been loaded, a measurement unit to measure, according to the action of the shutter, the time of the exposure to the recording medium which the shutter performs, and a back cover sensor to detect whether the back cover is open or closed when film or another recording medium has been loaded into the camera. The action of the measurement unit is inhibited when the back cover sensor detects that the back cover is open. The camera also has a drive unit for recording an image on the film or recording medium and a mode selection switch to select between a normal mode in which a photographic action is performed, in which the shutter and the drive unit are activated, and a test mode in which the shutter and the measurement unit are activated but not the drive unit.

Abstract: A multi-function and high function photographic device having optional setting of only those functions desired by the photographer, thereby omitting complicated setting operations, such as the selection of unnecessary function mode settings or function ranges. The photographic device includes an LCD to display plural function operation elements which are operational modes relating to photography or numerical values indicating operation ranges relating to photography. The photographic device further includes a manual operation device to select optional elements from among the function operation elements which are displayed on the LCD. A control device inhibits operation of the optional elements which were selected by the manual operation device. Moreover, control device controls display or non-display of function operation elements on the LCD, to indicate operation or operation inhibition states.

Abstract: The camera capable of displaying brightness distribution of the present invention is equipped with a photometric sensor which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion sub-elements which perform photometry on a plurality of regions into which the subject is divided, and a display device, having a plurality of display elements, which displays the brightness distribution over the subject as detected by the photometric sensor.

Abstract: A camera has a calculator which calculates a photographing condition suitable for a selected exposure mode. A driving device of the camera performs a photographing operation in accordance with a nominal value of an exposure parameter calculated by the calculator. The camera is provided with a measurement device which measures a real value of the exposure parameter in the photographing operation. The calculator is controlled to perform an exposure calculation on the basis of the real value of the exposure parameter obtained by the measurement device.

Abstract: An information setting apparatus includes a first operation mechanism reciprocally operatable in the first and second directions different from each other, first and second direction detection units respectively for detecting an operation in the first or second direction on the basis of the operation content of the first operation mechanism, a first information setting unit for sequentially setting first information in accordance with a detection output from the first direction detection unit, and a second information setting unit for sequentially setting second information in accordance with a detection output from the second direction detection unit.

Abstract: A control circuit generates a control signal which is of a low level during a certain period of time after the power supply of a solid state imager has been turned on or a power save mode thereof has been canceled, and of a high level after elapse of the period of time. Based on the control signal, a timing generator generates transfer clock signals having a high frequency than when the solid state imager is in a normal transfer mode, and applies the transfer clock signals to a CCD shift register to remove or transfer excessive invalid charges at a high rate therefrom. After the power supply has been turned on or the power save mode has been canceled, therefore, the time required to bring the solid state imager into a condition capable of imaging a subject is shortened.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided with an imaging device and either a first accessory or a second accessory mounted to the imaging device. The first accessory is capable of external operation, and has a first operating member which generates an electrical output according to the external operation of the first accessory. The second accessory is capable of external operation, and has a second operating member which generates an electrical output according to the external operation of the second accessory. The second accessory also has a data preparation device which prepares data based on the electrical output generated by the second operating member. The imaging system further has a discriminating device and electrical receptors. The discriminating device determines whether the first accessory or the second accessory is mounted to the imaging device.

Abstract: A camera which can detect the actual opening/closing state of the camera shutter based on a signal reflected towards the shutter by a signal projection unit and received by a signal receiving unit. The signal received by the signal receiving unit is based on the reflectivity of the shutter and, therefore, the signal received by the signal receiving unit is different depending on whether or not the shutter is open or closed. The camera has a reflectivity state detection unit for determining the reflectivity status of the shutter. A reflectivity standard changing unit changes the detection standard of the signal receiving unit based on information output by the reflectivity state detection unit. In this manner, changes in reflectivity of the shutter, due to passage of time or increase in use, will not reduce the accuracy of the detection of the open/close status of the shutter.

Abstract: A shutter of a camera is provided with a shutter trip detecting device includes LEDs and PTRs. Measured are tripping timings of leading and trailing curtains for admitting and intercepting object light to an aperture. An exposure time on a film and a tripping time (curtain velocity) of each curtain are thus detected. The detected result is compared with a fiducial value, and an alarm is given according to the need. There are detected mechanical fluctuation elements relative to the shutter, e.g., a scatter of the exposure time on the film, a partial uneveness of the exposure time and an influence on the exposure time due to a fault in a driving mechanism. The alarm can be thus given to the user, and an automatic adjustment can be made. The shutter trip detecting device includes the shutter leading/trailing curtains, the LEDs and PTRs which detect tripping thereof.

Abstract: A display driving apparatus, which can automatically optimize a visual state in accordance with a temperature in a photographing operation, a photographing attitude of a user, and a user's preference, is disclosed. The apparatus may include an electro-optical display unit, a temperature detection unit for detecting an ambient temperature of the electro-optical display unit, and generating a temperature detection signal, a bias value generation unit for generating a bias value to the electro-optical display unit, a changing unit for changing the bias value, a storage unit for storing a plurality of bias values changed by the changing unit in correspondence with the temperature detection signals, and a bias value control unit for executing statistical processing of the plurality of bias values stored in the storage unit, and controlling the bias value generation unit on the basis of the processing result.

Abstract: A shutter device includes shutter blades, a flexible printed circuit board electrically connectable to a camera main body, a shutter base plate having an aperture, a shutter drive mechanism arranged in the vicinity of the aperture on the shutter base plate for driving the shutter blades, and electrical parts arranged in the vicinity of the aperture at one area other than the area of arrangement of the shutter drive mechanism. The flexible printed circuit board is connected to the shutter drive mechanism and the electrical parts and continuously arranged along the periphery of the aperture.

Abstract: A solid state imager device such as a CCD imager device includes a timing generator which generates and supplies a clamping circuit with, a clamping pulse for clamping a first signal, corresponding to one pixel, from a through region of a CCD shift register, and a clamping pulse for clamping a second signal, corresponding to one pixel, from an optical black region of a sensor array. Specifically, the clamping pulse for clamping the first signal clamps a signal, corresponding to a first pixel, from the through region, and the clamping pulse for clamping the second signal clamps a signal, corresponding to a second or following pixel, from the optical black region. An output signal from the clamping circuit is supplied to an A/D converter which converts the supplied signal at such timing as not to sample the signal, corresponding to the first pixel, from the through region.

Abstract: A driving device for a piezoelectric actuator, in which a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric actuator to generate a mechanical deformation therein, thus actuating a mechanical system. In an aspect, the piezoelectric actuator is at first given a voltage of inverse polarity, for generating a displacement in an opposite direction, and then given a voltage of forward polarity, for generating a displacement in the normal functioning direction, thereby actuating the mechanical system. Displacement and acceleration become larger, as the displacement of the actuator takes place from a position in the inverse direction. In another aspect, the electrical insulation state of the piezoelectric actuator is detected and, if deteriorated, the destruction of insulation is prevented by an alarm generation and/or inhibition of voltage application in an embodiment, the insulation state is identified from the ambient humidity of the actuator.

Abstract: A tilt sensor comprises at least two elastically deformable electrodes, a ball having conductivity on at least a surface thereof, and a case which is non-conductive on at least an inner surface thereof for sealing therein the electrodes and the ball.

Abstract: A charge transfer device includes a circuit which can correct a fluctuated amount of light (charge amount)--output voltage characteristic with accuracy even when fluctuated by the change of temperature and the fluctuation of a power supply voltage. An output voltage characteristic in the standard state corresponding to a reference charge is stored and held in a ROM in advance. An ALU (arithmetic logical unit) corrects the light (charge amount)--output voltage characteristic by using the output voltage characteristic in the standard state corresponding to the reference charge stored in the ROM and the output voltages corresponding to the reference charge inputs from reference charge input portions in an imaging state, and corrects an output voltage (Va) corresponding to a signal charge in a practical imaging state.

Abstract: A system for operating an internal combustion engine including an intake valve and an exhaust valve, the system including an exhaust valve gear for the exhaust valve which incorporates an exhaust variable valve timing mechanism. The system also includes an intake valve gear for the intake valve which incorporates an intake variable valve timing mechanism. A control unit operates responsive to a low-speed/low-load operating range of the engine and a low-speed/high-load operating range of the engine to condition the exhaust variable valve timing mechanism for providing advanced opening and closing timings of the exhaust valve to cause a reduced valve overlap between the intake and exhaust valves, and at the same time condition the intake variable valve timing mechanism for decreasing an opening duration of the intake valve to provide a retarded opening timing thereof after a top dead center and an advanced closing timing thereof.

Abstract: The camera capable of performing divisional photometry according to the present invention includes a photometric sensor which is made up from a plurality of photoelectric conversion sub-elements arranged in close proximity to one another over a predetermined light receiving region in a two dimensional array and which performs divisionally photometry on the photographic field divided into a plurality of regions, an image projection optical system which projects an image of a photographic field upon light receiving surfaces of a proper subset of this plurality of photoelectric conversion sub-elements which occupies a region which is smaller than the predetermined light receiving region, and a calculation device which calculates an exposure value based upon the photometric outputs from the proper subset of the plurality of photoelectric conversion sub-elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera comprising, a microcomputer, an electrically erasable and programmable large-capacity memory for storing a control program for indicating an operation of the microcomputer, and a terminal, exposed to outside, through which at least one of commands and program data relative to erasing and rewriting to the large-capacity memory is transmitted. Preferably, the microcomputer has a read-only memory which stores the control program for indicating a transfer of at least one of the received commands and program data to the large-capacity memory but is separate from the large-capacity memory.

Abstract: Data positions and character orientations are quickly and reliably determined by a data copying device of a camera. Data relating to photography such as date and time, exposure value, and the like is copied inside or in the vicinity of a photographic field of a film.