Abstract: An optical connector assembly has a plug connector having a first optical element for performing emission or receipt of light and a first lens. It also has a receptacle connector having a second optical element for performing receipt or emission of light and a second lens. The plug connector includes a convex portion having sectional configuration of round arch and the first lens, and a plug portion formed on a forward end of the convex portion. The plug portion is perpendicular to first optical axis of the first optical element and the first lens. The receptacle connector includes a concave portion into which the convex portion is inserted and a receptacle portion in a bottom of the concave portion. The receptacle portion is perpendicular to second optical axis of the second optical element and the second lens. The plug or receptacle connector has supporting mechanism that supports the connector movably.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly has a plug connector having a first optical element for performing emission or receipt of light and a first lens. It also has a receptacle connector having a second optical element for performing receipt or emission of light and a second lens. The plug connector includes a convex portion having sectional configuration of round arch and the first lens, and a plug portion formed on a forward end of the convex portion. The plug portion is perpendicular to first optical axis of the first optical element and the first lens. The receptacle connector includes a concave portion into which the convex portion is inserted and a receptacle portion in a bottom of the concave portion. The receptacle portion is perpendicular to second optical axis of the second optical element and the second lens. The plug or receptacle connector has supporting mechanism that supports the connector movably.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, an image is to be displayed in real-time on a finder. In the finder mode, a CCD interface 21a thins out horizontal components of image data supplied from an image generating unit 10 to one-third and also effects gamma correction etc to send the resulting image data to a camera DSP 21c. The camera DSP 21c effects data conversion and resolution conversion on the image data resulting from the thinning to convert the data into Y, Cb and Cr image data which is routed to a memory controller 22. The memory controller 22 writes the image data in the image memory 32 and reads out the data from the memory controller 22 to route the read-out data over an image data bus 33 to an NTSC/PAL encoder 23. The NTSC/PAL encoder 23 converts the image data in resolution and further converts the image data into data of the NTSC or PAL system to route the resulting data to a finder.

Abstract: An imaging system in which, if image data of variable resolutions is to be handled in keeping with the increasing resolution of the image data, the processing is executed efficiently without lowering the processing capability of the respective circuits. To this end, a memory controller 22 time-divisionally transmits an acknowledge signal to the respective circuits within a range of the bandwidth limitation of an image data bus 33 in which image data can be furnished to the respective circuits, and manages control so that the respective circuits will execute the pre-set processing. That is, the memory controller 22 has access to data in the respective circuits in real-time in actuality to cause image data to be written from the respective circuits to the image memory 32 or to be read out from the image memory 32 and sent to the respective circuits.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for performing efficient signal processing depending on the operational mode. In the finder mode, a CCD interface 21a decimates horizontal components of image data supplied from an image generating unit 10 to one-third and moreover processes the decimated image data with data conversion and resolution conversion to produce Y, Cb and Cr image data which are routed to and written in an image memory 32 over a memory controller 22. In the recording mode, the CCD interface 21a causes the image data from the image generating unit 10 to be written in the image memory 32 via memory controller 22 after decimation and gamma correction etc. The camera DSP 21c reads out the image data via memory controller 22 from the image memory 32 to effect data conversion for writing the resulting data via memory controller 22 in the image memory 32.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for performing efficient signal processing depending on the operational mode. In the finder mode, a CCD interface 21a decimates horizontal components of image data supplied from an image generating unit 10 to one-third and moreover processes the decimated image data with data conversion and resolution conversion to produce Y, Cb and Cr image data which are routed to and written in an image memory 32 over a memory controller 22. In the recording mode, the CCD interface 21a causes the image data from the image generating unit 10 to be written in the image memory 32 via memory controller 22 after decimation and gamma correction etc. The camera DSP 21c reads out the image data via memory controller 22 from the image memory 32 to effect data conversion for writing the resulting data via memory controller 22 in the image memory 32.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, an image is to be displayed in real-time on a finder. In the finder mode, a CCD interface 21a thins out horizontal components of image data supplied from an image generating unit 10 to one-third and also effects gamma correction etc to send the resulting image data to a camera DSP 21c. The camera DSP 21c effects data conversion and resolution conversion on the image data resulting from the thinning to convert the data into Y, Cb and Cr image data which is routed to a memory controller 22. The memory controller 22 writes the image data in the image memory 32 and reads out the data from the memory controller 22 to route the read-out data over an image data bus 33 to an NTSC/PAL encoder 23. The NTSC/PAL encoder 23 converts the image data in resolution and further converts the image data into data of the NTSC or PAL system to route the resulting data to a finder.

Abstract: An imaging system in which, if image data of variable resolutions is to be handled in keeping with the increasing resolution of the image data, the processing is executed efficiently without lowering the processing capability of the respective circuits. To this end, a memory controller 22 time-divisionally transmits an acknowledge signal to the respective circuits within a range of the bandwidth limitation of an image data bus 33 in which image data can be furnished to the respective circuits, and manages control so that the respective circuits will execute the pre-set processing. That is, the memory controller 22 has access to data in the respective circuits in real-time in actuality to cause image data to be written from the respective circuits to the image memory 32 or to be read out from the image memory 32 and sent to the respective circuits.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an air compressor having a cylinder head with an air supply passage communicating with a discharge hole. First and second exhaust passages are arranged in parallel between the air supply passage and an exhaust port. A pilot-operated switching valve is located at an intermediate position in the first exhaust passage. A solenoid-operated exhaust valve is located at an intermediate position in the second exhaust passage. The solenoid-operated exhaust valve is selectively opened or closed by an externally supplied electric current, thereby controlling a pilot pressure applied to a valving element of the pilot-operated switching valve. The valving element is rested on or separated from a valve seat by the pilot pressure. The compressed air discharge speed can be increased without increasing the size of the cylinder head, and vehicle height adjustment, for example, can be made in a reduced period of time.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises a solid-state image pickup device including a plurality of light receiving areas, charge transfer areas, charge-reading gate areas and an output portion, a synchronous signal generator for producing line and frame synchronous signals, a timing signal generator for producing selectively a first internal frame synchronous signal in synchronism with the frame synchronous signal and a second internal frame synchronous signal asynchronous with the frame synchronous signal and for forwarding a charge-reading timing signal and a charge-transfer timing signal each synchronizing with the first or second internal frame synchronous signal, a driving signal generator for producing a gate driving signal and a charge-transfer driving signal in response to the charge-reading timing signal and the charge-transfer timing signal, respectively, and for supplying charge-reading gate areas and charge transfer areas with the gate driving signal and the charge-transfer driving signal, respectivel

Abstract: A damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber has a piston that has main hydraulic fluid passages and valve mechanisms and also has a piston rod connected thereto. One side of the cylinder of the shock absorber is provided with a damping force control mechanism having a guide member and a shutter, which open and close a bypass passage, and a valve mechanism that generates damping force by controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid through the bypass passage. Damping force characteristics are changed by rotating the shutter with a rotary actuator. Since the damping force control mechanism is provided on the side of the cylinder and the piston is provided with only the main hydraulic fluid passages and the valve mechanisms, the size of the piston assembly is relatively small. Accordingly, the stroke of the piston rod can be increased.

Abstract: A molten metal heating method according to this invention employs a heater comprising: at least one heat evolving substance disposed in contact with a molten metal held in a container with one surface thereof; and an electrode disposed in contact with the other surface of the heat evolving substance but not in contact with the molten metal. With this arrangement, a voltage is applied between the electrode and the molten metal to flow an electric current in the heat evolving substance in thicknesswise thereof and causes the heat evolving substance to evolve heat to heat the heater at a high temperature. Thus, the heater heats the molten metal, and controls the temperature of the molten metal. As a whole, this invention improves the quality of metal products. In particular, the heater is less likely to be broken by the heat confinement in it, and can be made of a wide variety of materials.