Abstract: A film holder comprises a base member and a film pressing member, between which a film is sandwiched. The film is placed on the base member. The film pressing member has a spring portion and a contact portion. When the film pressing member is closed while a film is on the base member, the contact portion comes into contact with a surface of the film and the spring portion is elastically deformed, causing the film to be tensioned outward and to change from a curved condition to a flat condition. Thus, the film is sandwiched between the base member and the film pressing member in a flat condition, so that an image developed on the film can be sensed or read with high accuracy.

Abstract: There is provided a digital camera, which is provided with an optical system which forms an image of an object, an image pick-up device which outputs an image signal corresponding to the image formed by said optical system, and a filtering system which filters the image to smooth at least a portion of the image based on the image signal outputted by the image pick-up device. The filtering system may calculate moving averages of pixels in the image. The digital camera may include a filter control system which is configured to change characteristics of the filtering system.

Abstract: A film scanner for scanning an image formed on a film, is provided with a line sensor unit that scans the image in a main scanning direction, and a table supporting the film. The table is slidable in an auxiliary scanning direction. A geared transmission is provided to receives the driving force of a driving source and outputs, to a table driving mechanism, one of a first and a second driving force. The first driving force is a force with which the table driving mechanism drives the table in a forward direction at a first speed, and the second driving force is a force with which the table driving mechanism drives the table in a reverse direction at a second speed that is different from the first speed.

Abstract: A film scanner has a transport table for transporting the film held by a film holder in a sub-scan direction, a transport mechanism for moving the transport table in the sub-scan direction, a line sensor and a line sensor drive circuit for obtaining an image of the film. The transport mechanism is provided with a scan motor driven in predetermined steps. The line sensor and the line sensor drive circuit are configured to read the signal at a first timing corresponding to a rotational position of the step of the scan motor and read the signal at both of the first timing and a second timing where the motor temporarily stops, due to overshoot, at an angular position between first timings.

Abstract: A film scanner performs a main-scan of a film by an imaging device and performs a sub-scan of the imaging device so as to enable scanning at any resolution using a simple configuration. The scanning mechanism, for the sub-scan of the film with respect to the imaging device, has a transport table for supporting the film held by a film holder and transporting it in a sub-scan direction and a transport mechanism for moving the transport table in the sub-scan direction. The source of the drive power of the transport mechanism is a scan motor (stepper motor) driven by a pulse signal output from a motor drive circuit. The motor drive circuit is configured to enable micro-stepping of the scan motor.

Abstract: A film scanner is provided with a line sensor for capturing an image formed on a film in a principal scanning direction, and a scanning mechanism for moving the film relative to the line sensor in an auxiliary scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the principal scanning direction. The scanning mechanism is provided with: a film holder for holding the film; a table for slidably mounting the film holder, the film holder being slidable in the auxiliary scanning direction; and a first driving system which drives the table in the auxiliary scanning direction at a first predetermined speed; and a second driving system which drives the film holder in the auxiliary scanning direction at a second predetermined speed, the second predetermined speed being faster than the first predetermined speed.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a position sensor which detects a position of the camera body relative to the direction of gravity, an acceleration sensor which detects an acceleration acted upon the camera body, a memory in which image data of a captured image is recorded, and a controller. If the magnitude of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when the captured image is produced is smaller than a predetermined value, the controller records the image data in the memory together with positional data of the camera body that is detected by the position sensor. If the magnitude of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when the captured image is produced is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the controller deems the data on the position of the camera body as invalid data and records only the image data in the memory.

Abstract: A magnetic disk for storing control data for controlling an electronic still camera. The magnetic disk is the same as used for recording an image and a sound. The control data is stored in a recording track in the form of DPSK-modulated data. A plurality of control data can be stored in a plurality of recording tracks, i.e., many different kinds of control data can be stored in the magnetic disk. The electronic still camera is controlled in accordance with the control data obtained from the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A camera includes a camera body and a detachable camera back. The camera body includes a guide section arranged in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis defined by a lens associated with the camera body. The camera back includes an imaging device and a biasing member which biases the imaging device such that, when the camera back is attached to the camera body, the imaging device is press contacted against the guide section. In particular, the guide section includes a pair of rails provided next to a photographing aperture of the camera body that defines an image forming plane for the camera. The imaging device may further include a glass plate provided in front of an image receiving surface that functions to shift an image plane along the optical axis of the camera.

Abstract: A camera includes an imaging device having an image receiving plane, the imaging device receiving an optical image formed on the image receiving plane and outputting signal corresponding to the received image, and a pressure plate arranged between a photographing lens and the imaging device, the pressure plate being formed of a transparent plate member having a predetermined gradient distribution of refractive index, the pressure plate shifting an image formed in front of the pressure plate to the imaging device.

Abstract: An oscillation damping gear including a gear member generally in the form of a chrysanthemum, having teeth and radial grooves defined between and by adjacent teeth, and an oscillation damping member having oscillation damping elements fitted in the radial grooves of the gear member. The oscillation damping member may include a plurality of separate damping elements or a central annular portion with a plurality of legs radially extending from the center annular portion. The separate damping elements or the plurality of legs are snugly fitted into the radial grooves of the gear member. The oscillation damping member may also include two adjacent gear members that are superimposed, so as to create a phase difference between the teeth, and coupled through a damping plate. The damping plate is elastically deformable such that the adjacent gears may rotate relative to each other.

Abstract: A photographic format indication system for a camera having at least two selectable photographic formats. The indication system identifies the photographic format of previously exposed frames of film in the camera following an exposure of a frame. The indicated format is maintained after a photographic format is no longer selected. The indicator may be an electronic display or a symbol printed on a firm cartridge.

Abstract: A camera has an image format altering mechanism that includes at least one light buffer blade which is arranged to be inserted into and retracted from an aperture of the camera to thereby determine a picture image area. The camera also includes a camera back hinged to a body of the camera so as to be opened and closed, and an image format selecting member provided on the camera back to move the light buffer blade, the image format selecting member being movable between a position corresponding to a retracted position of the light buffer blade and a position corresponding to an inserted position of the light buffer blade. The camera is also provided with a buffer blade biasing member for biasing the light buffer blade towards one of the retracted position and the inserted position, so that the light buffer blade is located at the retracted position or at the inserted position when the camera back is opened, regardless of the position of the light buffer blade before the camera back is opened.

Abstract: A hardware design support system for processing a general functional specification described in a hardware description language. A general functional specification is divided into a functional specification with a first functional element block of first functional elements and a second functional element block of second functional elements for reedition. The hardware design support system indicates a first mode inputting and information to specify the second functional elements and a second mode inputting an information to specify the first functional elements. An interface signal generator first acquires input/output elements from the first functional elements associated with the second functional elements according to the first mode and generates necessary interface signal information exchanged between the first functional element block and the second functional element block.

Abstract: A device is provided for adjusting the position of an element, arranged to be movable in a predetermined direction, comprising a driving member for generating driving force to be applied to the element, and a transferring member for transferring the driving force to the element. The device further comprising a plate member, arranged to be movable in parallel to the predetermined direction, for supporting at least the driving member. Thus, it becomes possible to easily execute a position adjustment operation of the predetermined element along the predetermined direction. Such position adjustment can be easily effected by only moving the plate member.

Abstract: A strobe device is provided having a light emitting unit which emits light and a condenser lens which converges strobe light from the light emitting unit onto an object to be taken by a photographing lens. At least one of the light emitting unit and the condenser lens is movable between a normal illuminating position, in which the direction of illumination of the strobe light is parallel with the optical axis of the photographing lens, and a macro-illuminating position, in which the direction of illumination of the strobe light is inclined towards the optical axis of the photographing lens.

Abstract: A head drive mechanism is disclosed which is associated with a disk drive device for rotatably mounting a disk member. The head drive mechanism comprises a head member capable of recording signals on the disk member and reproducing the same from the disk member. A carriage is provided for mounting the head member thereon, and a drive mechanism drives the carriage to slide in a direction parallel to the surface of the disk member. A signal transmitting member is electrically connected at one end with the head member and secured on the support member. The other end of the signal transmitting member is secured at a predetermined position which is fixed with respect to the disk drive device. The signal transmitting member is formed to have a resilient force for biasing the support member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the drive mechanism drives the carriage.

Abstract: A disk driving apparatus comprising a holder having an insertion opening end through which a jacket having a disk therein is inserted and discharged, a cover from which the holder hangs, a body having a motor for driving the disk in the jacket, and an opening and closing mechanism provided between the body and the cover for opening and closing the cover. The opening and closing mechanism includes a four-lever linkage having first and second levers which are pivoted at their one end to the body by respective pivot shafts and at the opposite ends to the cover by respective pivot shafts.

Abstract: A disk drive device is disclosed including a supporting mechanism for supporting a plurality of magnetic disks, a single motor, and a transmitting mechanism. The supporting mechanism comprises a plurality of bearing mechanisms, each of which rotatably supports each of the magnetic disks, respectively. Each bearing mechanisms is formed as a tube, and a rotatable shaft is connected to each disk and rotatably supported in each tubular bearing mechanism. The rotatable shaft is provided with grooves which generate a pumping effect when a fluid is passed therethrough, whereby the rotatable shaft is supported in the tubular bearing mechanism without friction therebetween. The transmitting mechanism comprises an endless belt for transmitting a rotation of the motor to the supporting mechanism.

Abstract: A head drive mechanism associated with a disk drive device is provided for driving to rotate a magnetic disk. A magnetic head is driven and a signal is recorded on the magnetic disk or a signal already recorded on the disk is reproduced. The head is mounted on a carriage, on which a protrusion is provided, and is driven in a direction parallel to the surface of the disk with the protrusion being engaged with a lead screw when the lead screw is rotated. When the carriage abuts against a stopper located at a predetermined position, the movement of the head in the radial direction of the disk is prevented. A control system further controls rotation of the screw in the direction parallel to the surface of the disk such that the carriage is held abutting against the stopper. Since the protrusion is forced against the thread portion of the screw, the head is moved away from the disk.