Abstract: A power supply device includes: an oscillator configured to output a clock signal; a pulse output unit configured to output a pulse by dividing the frequency of the clock signal; a switching element driven by the pulse; a piezoelectric transformer configured to intermittently receive a voltage from the switching element and to output a high alternating current voltage; a rectifier configured to convert the high alternating current voltage to a high direct current voltage; an output voltage conversion unit configured to convert the high direct current voltage to a low direct current voltage; a target setter configured to output a target value; and a comparison unit configured to compare the low direct current voltage with the target value and to output a comparison result. A frequency division ratio of the pulse is controlled according to the comparison result, and thereby is changed so as to obtain the target value.

Abstract: A power source device includes an oscillator generating a clock, a frequency division unit dividing the clock to output a pulse, a sequence generation unit generating sequences “N” with respect to each switching of the pulse, a frequency division ratio setting unit setting frequency division ratio, a switching element driven by the pulse, and a piezoelectric transformer outputting alternating high voltage from a secondary-side when a primary-side is applied with voltage. The generated sequence and the set frequency division ratio are compared to output the pulses of fractional-M, -M+1 frequencies. An average frequency division ratio of the pulses of fractional-M, -M+1 frequencies determined by (M×?)+(M+1)×?/(?+?), where ? and ? respectively represent the number of pulses of “M” and “M+1” per unit time. The average frequency division ratio and frequency division ratio become equal at a sequence generation cycle and approximated in a period shorter than the sequence generation cycle.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer driving device including: an oscillator; a frequency-divider outputting a pulse by dividing a clock signal from the oscillator by a frequency-divide ratio received thereto; a switching element driven by the pulse and intermittently applying a voltage to a primary side of a piezoelectric transformer; a frequency-divide ratio instructing unit holding a frequency-divide ratio instruction value of a real number having an integer part and an fractional part; a binarization unit binarizing the frequency-divide ratio instruction value into two different integer frequency-divide ratios and selectively outputting the frequency-divide ratios. The binarization unit adjusts an appearance ratio of the frequency-divide ratios such that an average of the frequency-divide ratios output from the binarization unit is equal to an average of the frequency-divide ratio instruction value.

Abstract: A power unit includes: a frequency divider to divide a clock signal in a second frequency-division ratio based on a first frequency-division ratio and to output a driving pulse; a switching device driven by the driving pulse; a piezoelectric transformer to output an alternating-current high voltage when receiving an intermittent voltage from the switching device; a comparison device to compare a digital signal corresponding to the piezoelectric transformer output voltage with a target voltage and to output a comparison result; a controller to control the first frequency-division ratio based on the comparison result; a first holding device to hold the controlled first frequency-division ratio; a first computing device to determine the second frequency-division ratio by performing computation using a first correction value and the first frequency-division ratio held by the first holding device; and a second holding device to hold the second frequency-division ratio determined by the first computing device.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer driving device includes a piezoelectric transformer for outputting an alternating high voltage, a switching control part configured to control the control frequency of the control signal, a reference voltage waveform generation part configured to switch between a first voltage value, a second voltage value and a third voltage value, a monitor voltage generation part configured to generate a monitor voltage waveform based on the high voltage output from the piezoelectric transformer, and a comparison part configured to compare the reference voltage waveform with the monitor voltage waveform to generate a comparison result, and configured to supply the comparison result to the switching control part.

Abstract: A power supply device includes: an oscillator configured to output a clock signal; a pulse output unit configured to output a pulse by dividing the frequency of the clock signal; a switching element driven by the pulse; a piezoelectric transformer configured to intermittently receive a voltage from the switching element and to output a high alternating current voltage; a rectifier configured to convert the high alternating current voltage to a high direct current voltage; an output voltage conversion unit configured to convert the high direct current voltage to a low direct current voltage; a target setter configured to output a target value; and a comparison unit configured to compare the low direct current voltage with the target value and to output a comparison result. A frequency division ratio of the pulse is controlled according to the comparison result, and thereby is changed so as to obtain the target value.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer driving device including: an oscillator; a frequency-divider outputting a pulse by dividing a clock signal from the oscillator by a frequency-divide ratio received thereto; a switching element driven by the pulse and intermittently applying a voltage to a primary side of a piezoelectric transformer; a frequency-divide ratio instructing unit holding a frequency-divide ratio instruction value of a real number having an integer part and an fractional part; a binarization unit binarizing the frequency-divide ratio instruction value into two different integer frequency-divide ratios and selectively outputting the frequency-divide ratios. The binarization unit adjusts an appearance ratio of the frequency-divide ratios such that an average of the frequency-divide ratios output from the binarization unit is equal to an average of the frequency-divide ratio instruction value.

Abstract: A power source device includes an oscillator generating a clock, a frequency division unit dividing the clock to output a pulse, a sequence generation unit generating sequences “N” with respect to each switching of the pulse, a frequency division ratio setting unit setting frequency division ratio, a switching element driven by the pulse, and a piezoelectric transformer outputting alternating high voltage from a secondary-side when a primary-side is applied with voltage. The generated sequence and the set frequency division ratio are compared to output the pulses of fractional-M, ?M+1 frequencies. An average frequency division ratio of the pulses of fractional-M, ?M+1 frequencies determined by (M×?)+(M+1)×?/(?+?), where ? and ? respectively represent the number of pulses of “M” and “M+1” per unit time. The average frequency division ratio and frequency division ratio become equal at a sequence generation cycle and approximated in a period shorter than the sequence generation cycle.

Abstract: A camera including a camera body, a lens barrel, a power supply source to supply power to circuits of the camera, and a main switch to switch the power supply source between a power supplied status and power-not-supplied status. The lens barrel has a first position which is where the lens barrel is completely retracted within the camera body, a second position which is where the lens barrel is set when the main switch has gone into the power supplied status, and a reference position which is for positional control of the lens barrel with respect to the camera body. The reference position is between the first position and the second position of the lens barrel. If a new battery is inserted into the camera, the lens barrel is not moved, thereby preventing a camera holder from dropping the camera.

Abstract: A camera with a visual line position detection device is capable of shortening the time required for auto focus detection and capable of more accurate selection of the focus detection point. The camera includes a focus detection device to output the results of distance measurements at a plurality of points where focus detection is possible and to detect focus for one of these points. A liquid crystal display device displays on a screen specified symbols overlapping the subject image on the positions corresponding to each of the points. A microprocessor accepts the results of the distance measurements from the focus detection system and selects one of the points based on the photographer visual line position as the point for focus detection among all the points whose distances are measured and on which focus detection is possible, excluding the points with an infinite focus distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; toner image forming unit for forming a toner image with non-magnetic toner on an image bearing member; intermediate transfer member contactable to the image bearing member and movable along an endless path; primary transfer unit for effecting primary image transfer of the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a first transfer position; secondary transfer unit for effecting a secondary image transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer member on the transfer material at a second transfer position; and a residual toner charger for charging the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member to a polarity opposite from a regular polarity thereof.

Abstract: The operating mode contents of a camera can easily be set by the visual alignment action of the photographer and by manual operation. In a first embodiment, a camera is equipped with a visual line position detection device that detects the position of the visual line of the photographer, a mode contents setting device that sets the contents of the operating modes, and a control device that, when it is determined from the output of the visual line position detection device that the photographer is aligning his vision on a predetermined area, changes the camera mode of the mode contents setting device. In a second embodiment, it is possible to quickly switch the camera mode that is the object of manual operation to the object of the visual alignment operation. It is then possible to change the contents of the mode through the visual alignment action, constituting the manual operation in the second embodiment.

Abstract: A film driving circuit that is capable of normal driving and reverse driving to drive-control a first motor and a second motor each rotating in only one direction. The motor driving circuit is structured so the first motor driving and the second motor driving is controlled by four switching elements composing a bridge circuit. The first motor connects to the connecting points of two of the switching elements. The second motor connects to the connecting points of the other two of the four switching elements. A CPU controls the first motor and the second motor by controlling the on-off status of the four switching elements.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus a toner image is transferred onto a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: An automatic-focus camera has a focus lock system that stores focus adjusting information so that a photo-taking lens may be kept focused on an object during one or more exposures. The camera has a self timer, an automatic exposure system with different program modes, and has continuous as well as single-frame operating modes. The focus lock system, which has different focus lock modes, influences the manner in which various operations of the camera are performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image-bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an intermediate transfer member for receiving a transferable image formed on the first image-bearing member, and contact transfer device for transferring the transferable image from the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material. The first image-bearing member has a surface layer having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.d, the intermediate transfer member has a surface layer having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.ITD and the contact transfer device has a surface layer having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.tr satisfying a relationship of; .epsilon..sub.d .ltoreq..epsilon..sub.ITD .ltoreq..epsilon..sub.tr. The intermediate transfer member exhibits a volume resistivity of 10.sup.6 -10.sup.10 ohm.cm (at an applied voltage of 1 kV), and the contact transfer device exhibits a volume resistivity of 10.sup.8 -10.sup.15 ohm.cm (at an applied voltage of 1 kV).

Abstract: On the basis of inputted multivalued image data, direction of growth is decided from a density pattern having a plurality of growth directions and a density pattern is caused to grow based upon the growth direction that has been decided. As a result, character images are formed sharply and high-quality half-tone images exhibiting reduced density irregularity can be produced.

Abstract: A camera with a visual line position detection device capable of highly accurate determinations even when diopter adjustment is accomplished after initial completion of correction of the visual line position determining system. The camera includes a screen to form a subject image, a pentagonal prism provided inside the finder, a visual line position detection device equipped with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit to detect the visual line position, and a diopter adjustment lens placed on the photographer's side of the pentagonal prism. The diopter adjustment lens is displaced after the correction of the visual line position detection device, and a correction coefficient needed to compute the visual line position on the screen obtained during the correction of the visual line position detection device is changed according to the displacement amount of the diopter adjustment lens.

Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a standard or a panoramic photography mode is provided with an automatic focusing system that focuses on a subject in one of a plurality of areas within a photographic field. In the standard photography mode, the camera automatically selects one of the plurality of areas based on a predetermined algorithm and focuses on the selected area. In the panoramic photography mode, the camera selects one of the plurality of area in response to a user performed operation and focuses upon the selected area. When operating in the panoramic photographic mode, an area can be selected by using a manual selection device, or through use of a visual line position detection device. The visual line position detection device determines which area in the photographic field the photographer's eye is focused upon, and the focused upon area is then selected. The camera may include a display device that indicates which of the plurality of areas has been selected.

Abstract: An active distance measuring apparatus with the remote control function is provided with a plurality of light projecting portions, a plurality of light receiving portions, a distance measuring device for effecting active distance measurement at one or more points in an image field by the use of all or some of the plurality of light projecting portions and the plurality of light receiving portions, and a remote control for performing, when the light receiving portions receive signal light from a remote control transmitter, a predetermined remote control operation by the use of the output of the light receiving portion which has received the signal light, the distance measuring device distance-measuring a distance measuring point corresponding to the light receiving portion which has received the signal light from the remote control transmitter.