Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layer capable of coming into a light scattering state when no voltage is applied, and first and second transparent electrodes capable of forming an electric field to the polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layer. The first transparent electrode has a first electrode pattern and a second electrode pattern disposed adjoiningly to the first electrode pattern via a boundary area between them. The boundary area has a width adequate to make transparent the polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layer at its area corresponding to the boundary area, by the action of an electric field formed by the second electrode pattern and second transparent electrode. This liquid-crystal display device enables any desired display to be superimposed on the background image while preventing the difficulty that the wiring area extending to a display mark is displayed or only the edging of the display mark is displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display device which comprises a pair of plate-like light transmittable members; a display member located so as to form a predetermined pattern between a pair of light transmittable members, the display member being composed of a material whose light transmittance is electrically changed; and a pair of light transmittable electrodes, at least one of a pair of light transmittable electrodes having a shape corresponding to the pattern, a pair of light transmittable electrodes being formed on a pair of light transmittable members and for electrically controlling the material. The camera having the display device comprises illuminating means for illuminating the display portion. The display portion is illuminated in accordance with a luminance of a subject. The illuminating light can be also used for measuring a distance and for illuminating another display element.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layer capable of coming into a light scattering state when no voltage is applied, and first and second transparent electrodes capable of forming an electric field to the polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layer. The first transparent electrode has a first electrode pattern and a second electrode pattern disposed adjoiningly to the first electrode pattern via a boundary area between them. The boundary area has a width adequate to make transparent the polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal layer at its area corresponding to the boundary area, by the action of an electric field formed by the second electrode pattern and second transparent electrode.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element which can regulate diffusivity simply. The liquid crystal element includes a diffusion plate having a macromolecular dispersion type liquid crystal interposed between a first glass plate and a second glass plate. The surface of the first glass plate toward the macromolecular dispersion type liquid crystal has random roughness, and a transparent electrode layer is formed on the roughened surface of the first glass plate. Moreover, a surface of the second glass plate toward the macromolecular dispersion type liquid crystal is a flat surface, and a transparent electrode layer is formed directly on the flat surface of the second glass plate. When not being driven, light which is incident perpendicularly on the plate surface from below the diffusion plate passes through the second glass plate, is scattered, and is incident on the macromolecular dispersion type liquid crystal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element having characteristics of voltage-transparency, and the like, which differ locally. The method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device includes a step of injecting a mixture of photohardening resin and liquid crystal between two substrates, and a step of exposing the injected mixture to light which causes photohardening of the mixture. The step of exposing the mixture to light includes exposing at least two pattern regions which become different from each other under photohardening conditions.

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus is provided that tracks the direction of movement of an object from a plurality of focus detection areas disposed within the photographic screen of a camera in an efficient order. The focus adjustment apparatus includes a focus detection device that individually detects focus detection information of a plurality of focus detection areas; a memory that records a selection order of focus detection areas used in focus control; a focus estimation device that extends a trend of the focus detection information and calculates estimated values of the focus detection information regarding the focus detection areas used in the focus control; a tracking device that tracks the focus detection areas matching the estimated values computed by the focus estimation device by following the selection order during the past focus control operation recorded by the memory; and a focus controller that performs focus control regarding the focus detection areas tracked by the tracking device.

Abstract: An autofocus device and method for a camera that can process statistically the tracking and focusing of an object in high velocity motion. The device and method corrects the acceleration of the motion and computes a lens forwarding amount and an absolute position of the object. This is achieved by a camera system including a camera body and a focus lens. The camera body includes an autofocus detector, an autofocus processor section and a main CPU. The focus lens includes a lens, a lens driving gear, a lens CPU, and a motor. This structure, having an improved autofocus processor, enables highly accurate prediction tracking and autofocus control that accommodates fluctuations in an autofocus operation.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device includes a focus detection device for detecting focus data from a plurality of focus detection areas established in the imaging region. A selection device selects a specified area from the plurality of focus detection areas. A focus control device performs focus control of the photographic lens corresponding to the focus data of that specified area. The selection device may include a statistical prediction device for performing a statistical calculation on the past focus data in the specified area and for determining a predicted value of the focus data by extending a trend of the focus data. A statistical determination device determines whether the most recent focus data of the specified area is outside the acceptable range of the predicted value. A statistical tracking device searches for focus data within the acceptable range of the said prediction value and changes the specified area to the searched-out area.

Abstract: An automatic focus device capable of optimum focus lens driving control corresponding to the magnitude of the positional error of the focus lens. The automatic focus device specifies the target position of the focus lens based on information relating to the defocus distance of the focus lens, the velocity of the subject image, the current position of the focus lens and controls the driving power of the focus lens based on non-linear functions of the positional error defined as the difference between the target position and the current position of the focus lens.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device drives a focusing lens so as to follow the actual movement of the subject image-forming plane. The automatic focus device has a shooting lens, a camera body, and a CPU in the camera body that computes a defocus amount by conducting focus state detections at a set time intervals. In addition, the CPU reads, via lens connections, the lens movement amount detected by a drive monitor unit in the shooting lens. Furthermore, image plane velocities are computed at set time intervals using the defocus amount and lens movement amount. A determination is made as to whether the computed image plane velocities are suitable for prediction computations, and when the determination is that the velocities are suitable, the hypothetical time t.sub.n-1 corresponding to the previous image plane velocity computation time is found. Next, after the expected exposure time tr is changed to the hypothetical exposure time tx, the image plane velocity V.sub.

Abstract: An automatic focus state detection device executes focus adjustment by taking environmental factors such as temperature and power source voltage into consideration. The temperature of the camera, the power source voltage of the battery in the camera, and the posture of the camera are detected. Then, lens driving times for six representative points of the driving lens distance are computed. A driving time table is produced, and the defocus amount is detected. Then, based on the updated driving time table, the lens driving time corresponding to the current defocus amount is computed. Finally, the timing for each sequential process from release to start of exposure is determined. In this manner, the driving time is computed by taking the temperature, the power source voltage, and the posture into consideration, and a more accurate estimation of the lens driving time is realized.

Abstract: To improve focusing precision and responsiveness in an automatic focusing device, an accurate lens driving amount is found in a short time from a detected defocus amount. A conversion coefficient .gamma.s is calculated by successively correcting a correction coefficient Lm using the next correction coefficient L(m+1) and the defocus amount .DELTA.Bf and by correcting the specific conversion coefficient .gamma. using these correction coefficients and the defocus amount .DELTA.Bf. Driving of the focusing lens is controlled by calculating a driving amount .DELTA.x for the focusing lens from the defocus amount .DELTA.Bf using the conversion coefficient .gamma.s.

Abstract: A compact, low-cost apparatus for measuring the refractive index of an eye utilizes a chopper which forms and scans two orthogonal fringes. In a light-receiving unit, at least three light-receiving elements are arranged not to be aligned in a line. With these light-receiving elements, time differences when the fringes pass light-receiving elements in each of two pairs are measured. A control & arithmetic unit calculates the spherical power, the cylindrical power, and the cylindrical axis degree by performing predetermined calculations using the measurement data. The apparatus requires no image rotator, and hence, a compact, low-cost apparatus can be realized. Also, the measurement time can be shortened.

Abstract: An automatic lensmeter for automatically measuring a lens characteristic of a lens to be tested, comprises: a measuring unit including an optical system for detecting a refraction characteristic of the lens; a calculation unit for calculating a lens characteristic value in accordance with information from the measurement unit; a display unit for displaying the lens characteristic value calculated by the calculation unit; an actual eccentricity calculation unit for calculating an actual eccentricity based on the lens characteristic value calculated by the calculation unit; and an optical axis position determination unit for determining whether the actual eccentricity calculated by the actual eccentricity calculation unit is within a predetermined range or not to determine whether the measurement and/or the marking are permitted. The display unit displays the determination of the optical axis position determination unit.

Abstract: A spectacle lens right/left determination apparatus used in an optical characteristic measurement apparatus for checking and measuring optical characteristic of spectacle lenses, comprises a contact plate which has contact surfaces which are brought into contact with an eye-rim of one spectacle lens to be measured and an eye-rim of the other spectacle lens not to be measured when the spectacle lens to be measured, whose central portion is mounted on and fixed to the optical characteristic measurement apparatus, is inserted in a measurement optical path of the optical characteristic measurement apparatus; a first strain sensor, fixed to the contact plate, for, when a left-eye lens is present on the measurement optical path and the eye-rim of a right-eye lens is brought into contact with the contact surface, detecting a strain of the contact plate; a second strain sensor, fixed to the contact plate, for, when the right-eye lens is present on the measurement optical path and the eye-rim of the left-eye lens is b

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the optical characteristics of a lens disposed in a measuring optical system illuminated by the beams of a plurality of light sources, the apparatus includes photoelectric detecting means having a detecting surface disposed substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the measuring optical system for detecting the positions of the light beams passed through the lens and producing a photelectric signal, optical characteristic calculating means responsive to the signal to calculate the spherical power, the cylindrical power and the principal meridians axis degree of the lens, deviation detecting means responsive to the signal to detect the amount of deviation of the central position of the light beams passed through the lens from the position of the optic axis of the measuring optical system, eccentricity calculating means for calculating the eccentricity of the optic axis of the lens from the optic axis of the measuring optical system in a two-dimensional coordinates system on the