Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a belt member having a convex portion, effecting a circular movement, a first support member and a second support member for supporting the belt member, and a drive receiving unit for receiving force from circular movement of the belt member. An angle of the second support member to the first support member is affected by inputting the force arising from the circular movement into the drive receiving unit, and the force arising from the circular movement is input by contacting the convex portion to the drive receiving unit.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable-focus lens capable of freely changing the refractive power and operating with a reduced deterioration in performance and an image taking apparatus having a focal-length-variable image taking lens including the variable-focus lens. The variable-focus lens includes: a lens body having an electromagnetic field generator which changes the focal length of the light passage region by moving, by an electromagnetic force, light-transmissive nanoparticles which are dispersed in a light-transmissive dispersion medium enclosed in a container having the shape of a lens, and which have a refractive index different from the refractive index of the dispersion medium; a moving mechanism which moves the lens body in an optical axis direction; and a focal length adjustment section which changes the focal length of the lens body by controlling an electromagnetic field generated by the electromagnetic field generator.

Abstract: A digital camera is composed of a camera body and a lens unit removebly attached to the camera body. When the lens unit is attached to the camera body, the lens unit and camera body send and receive control signals by antennas and wireless I/Fs each disposed on the lens unit and the camera body, respectively. In addition, data of the image captured with the lens unit is sent to the camera body by serial drivers, each disposed on the lens unit and the camera body, through connection contacts that electrically connect the lens unit and the camera body. When the lens unit is detached from the camera body, on the other hand, the control signals are sent and received by the antennas and the wireless I/Fs, and the image data is sent by the wireless communication.

Abstract: The image taking apparatus of the invention includes a light quantity control device that is arranged on the optical axis of subject light and controls transmitted volume of the subject light. The light quantity control device includes a light quantity control layer and a pair of light-transmissive electrodes. The light quantity control layer expands and contracts in accordance with an electric field generated therein and thereby changes the transmitted volume of the subject light. The electrodes are disposed so as to sandwich the light quantity control layer and generate an electric field in the light quantity control layer, in response to application of voltage, thereby causing the light quantity control layer to expand and contract.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light emitting unit that can accurately control the light output angle and/or direction over long period and an image taking apparatus provided with the light emitting unit. The light emitting unit has a light source, a reflector provided at the back surface of the light source and an optical member provided at the front of the light source. The optical member having: a container which is light-transmissive at least in a light passage region; a light-transmissive dispersion medium enclosed in the container; a dispersoid which is dispersed in the dispersion medium, which is light-transmissive, and which has a refractive index different from the refractive index of the dispersion medium. The optical member controls the output angle and/or direction of the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector by moving the dispersoid using electromagnetic force.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises a first lens unit and a second lens unit. A first fixed barrel of the first lens unit movably holds a first lens frame, which holds a first lens group, in an optical-axis direction. A second fixed barrel of the second lens unit movably holds a second lens frame, which holds a second lens group, in the optical-axis direction. The first and second fixed barrels are secured in series in the optical-axis direction. The first and second lens units are adapted to be easily assembled in series in the optical-axis direction. Misalignment of the plural lens groups is prevented, and the first and second lens groups are accurately and individually moved in the optical-axis direction.

Abstract: An electronic control system comprises a power source, a controller and a power source relay for supplying and cutting off a supply of power to the controller. A fusion detecting circuit includes a capacitor and a first resistor connected to the power source relay to detect fusion of the power source relay. A second resistor is connected in parallel to the first resistor. A switching element is connected to one of the first resistor and the second resistor in series. The switching element is set to an ON-state when the power source relay is set to the OFF-state, thereby discharging a charge accumulated in the capacitor through the first resistor and the second resistor.

Abstract: A lens barrel has its collapsed length which can be further decreased and its extended length which can be further increased. A photographic apparatus incorporates the lens barrel into its body. A lens barrel is equipped with a first gear which is rotatably supported by a straight-ahead key ring and rotates being driven by rotation of a middle tube and a second gear which receives driving force from the first gear and retracts a second lens group to a predetermined retracted position off the optical axis of a zoom lens during collapse and advances the second lens group onto the optical axis during extension. The second gear lacks teeth in that part which faces the first gear when the second lens group is at the retracted position during collapse. Consequently, the first gear runs idle while facing that part thereby holding the second lens group at the retracted position.

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: An ink cartridge is partitioned into a negative pressure generator chamber containing a negative pressure generator and a storage chamber containing an ink bag. The ink bag stores ink and supplies the ink to the negative pressure generator chamber through an ink port. The negative pressure generator absorbs and holds the ink by its capillary force, to keep pressure inside nozzles of a recording head negative to atmospheric pressure. Through a first air introduction hole, the air is introduced into the negative pressure generator chamber as the ink in the negative pressure generator chamber decreases. Through a second air introduction hole, the air is introduced into the storage chamber as the ink in the ink bag decreases. So variations in pressure inside the nozzles are suppressed, which makes ink discharge from the nozzles stable.

Abstract: To fill the ink cartridge with the ink, a first air introduction hole of a negative pressure generator chamber is sealed up, and a pressure pump is connected to a second air introduction hole of a storage chamber, to raise pressure inside the storage chamber so as to exhaust air out of an ink bag. While keeping the storage chamber under the high pressure, the second air introduction hole is sealed up, the first air introduction hole is opened, and an ink filling pump is activated to inject the ink through an ink outlet into the negative pressure generator chamber. When a predetermined amount of ink is injected, the second air introduction hole is opened, and the ink filling pump is reactivated to fill up the ink bag as well as the negative pressure generator chamber with the ink.

Abstract: A printing system for printing a color image provided via the Internet, includes: a terminal unit, connected to the Internet, operable to obtain the color image; a printer, connected to the terminal unit, operable to print the color image; and a correcting information provider operable to provide the terminal unit with correcting information for allowing the color image to be corrected in accordance with at least color characteristics of the printer, wherein the printer prints the color image by using the correcting information.

Abstract: Formed on a semiconductor substrate is a CCD image sensor. The CCD image sensor has photodiodes arranged in a matrix form, a transfer path for transferring signal charges generated by the photodiodes, and an output amplifier for amplifying and outputting the signal charges. The transfer path and the output amplifier are covered with a light shielding film, This light shielding film has integral radiation fins.

Abstract: A fuel cell including, a cell unit which has a fuel electrode including a catalyst, an air electrode including a catalyst, and an electrolyte membrane which is sandwiched by the fuel electrode and the air electrode; a fuel chamber which is disposed at a fuel electrode side, and which stores fuel; an air chamber which is disposed at an air electrode side and to which air is supplied; and a recovery chamber in which a fuel-side by-product, which is generated by a catalytic reaction of the fuel at the fuel electrode, is recovered, wherein a colorant containing an indicator is provided inside of one of the fuel chamber and the recovery chamber.