Abstract: A multimode camera comprises means for independently setting an aperture and a shutter speed to their optional values, means for selectively setting an AV-TV characteristic line in accordance with the aperture and shutter speed which have been set by the independently setting means, means for storing the AV-TV characteristic line which have been selected by the selectively setting means in accordance with a lens identification number of a lens barrel mounted on the camera, and means for unequivocally reading out the AV-TV characteristic line which have been stored in the storing means in accordance with the lens identification number of the lens barrel when a power source is turned on and/or the lens barrel is mounted on a camera body.

Abstract: An output device for range information for use in an interchangeable lens includes a range ring of the interchangeable lens which is first preset at an extreme position, namely, a position at infinity or at close range, and a CPU disposed in the interchangeable lens for producing absolute range information relative to the extreme position on the basis of pulses which are generated in response to data stored in the CPU and rotating of the range ring. A camera system includes rotatable and manually operable operating members which are located on a camera accessory. Rotation of the operating members results in the generation of pulses and the rotation detection device uses the pulses for detecting rotation of the operating members. An output from the detecting means serves to control a motor drive to focus an interchangeable lens.

Abstract: An endoscope having an control section and an inserting section fitted with an optical system. A tubular lens frame of the optical system is disposed at the head part of the inserting section and an inclined end face which is tapered inward is formed all around the end face of the lens frame. A plurality of optical members are arranged in the lens frame and the inclined end face of the lens frame forms a substantially V-shaped annular groove together with the outside surface of an optical member disposed at the end portion of the lens frame. An adhesive is accumulated first in the annular groove and then filled in the clearance between the optical member and the lens frame. In this way, the optical member is secured airtightly to the lens frame.

Abstract: A multimode camera comprises an independently settable aperture and shutter to set the aperture and shutter speed to preset, optional values. An AV-TV characteristic line is determined in accordance with the aperture and shutter speed which have been individually set by independent action. The AV-TV characteristic line is selected in accordance with a lens identification number of a lens barrel mounted on the camera. The AV-TV characteristic line which has been stored in a memory is unequivocally selected in accordance with the lens identification number associated with the lens barrel when a power source is turned on and/or the lens barrel is mounted on a camera body.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting a camera electric circuit employs a non-volatile memory element for electrically storing and reading data, takes out digitized compensation data from the non-volatile memory element during a digital calculation process, and, after the calculation including the compensation data, controls an exposure control or an exposure display circuit of the camera in accordance with the calculated output, thereby dispensing with conventional analog adjustment. The compensation data may be obtained through the use of a test instrument by comparing test results against results obtained by the camera calculator or through the use of comparing a previously standarized shutter speed with the shutter speed determined by the camera calculator. The compensator value can be used to provide a corrected display. A separate compensation value for an aperture deviation can also be stored. The stored data is retained unchanged by removal of a jumper control.

Abstract: A camera of the automatic aperture control type permits stop-down means which operates a diaphragm in cooperation with a shutter release operation first to move forward from a first position corresponding to the open aperture to a second position corresponding to a minimum aperture and then to move back from the second position toward the first position. The camera includes storage means for storing a position occupied by the stop-down means when the diaphragm assumes a proper aperture while the stop-down means moves from the first position to the second position so that the stop-down means is stopped at the stored position while the stop-down means moves back from the second position toward the first position.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning an endoscope, the open ends of an air/liquid supply valve cylinder, a suction valve cylinder, and a gas supply valve cylinder which are arranged in a control section of the endoscope are closed by stops. An air supply channel, a liquid supply channel, a suction channel, and a gas supply channel of the endoscope open at one end to a connector mounted on the distal end of the light guide cable of the endoscope. The connector is submerged in the liquid held in a tank. A cap is mounted on the distal end of the insertion section so that a nozzle communicating with the channels and a suction opening communicating with the suction channel open to the interior of the cap. The cap is connected to a suction pump by a suction tube. The pump is operated, thus sucking the liquid from the nozzle and suction opening through the four channels and the three cylinders, thereby cleaning the interiors of these channels and cylinders.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning an endoscope, the open ends of an air/liquid supply valve cylinder and a suction valve cylinder, both provided within a control section of the endoscope, are closed by stops. The ends of an air supply channel, a liquid supply channel and a suction channel, which open to a connector mounted on the distal end of a light guide cable, are connected to a connecting tube so that liquid may flow between these ends. The other end of the suction channel opening to the distal end of an insertion section is connected to a liquid tank filled with liquid through a liquid supply tube. The tank is connected to an air pump through an air supply tube. When the pump is operated, the liquid is supplied from the other end of the suction channel and discharged from a nozzle through the three channels, valve cylinders and the connecting tube, thereby cleaning the interiors of these channels and valve cylinders with the liquid.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning an endoscope, a stop is mounted on the open end of an air/liquid supply valve cylinder thereby closing the open end. A liquid tank is connected through a liquid supply tube to a first air supply port which opens to a connector of the endoscope and communicates with one end of an air supply channel. A connecting cap is attached to the connector so that a second air supply port communicating the air supply channel and a liquid supply port communicating with a liquid supply channel communicate with each other. An air supply pump is connected to the liquid tank. The pump is operated under this condition and supplies the liquid in the liquid tank to the first air supply port. The liquid supplied to the first air supply port is discharged from a nozzle communicating with the other ends of the air and liquid supply channels through these channels and the air/liquid supply valve cylinder, thereby cleaning the interior of these channels and the cylinder.

Abstract: An automatic focussing apparatus includes an operating switch disposed on a camera which may be closed to energize an in-focus detector circuit from a battery contained within the camera and to energize a motor drive circuit from another battery contained within a lens barrel. The apparatus also includes an operating switch mounted on the lens barrel which may be turned on to energize the in-focus detector circuit and the motor drive circuit from a battery disposed within the lens barrel.Focussing signals representing the magnitude and direction of lens movement from the focussing processor may be coupled to the motor control circuit through two control lines in one embodiment or only one control line in a second embodiment.

Abstract: An automatic focus controlling camera includes a taking lens barrel which is capable of automatically establishing an in-focus condition. The taking lens barrel includes an automatic focus detector circuit to enable an automatic focussing operation in response to the depression of a shutter release button disposed on a camera body or in response to an operation of a manual member disposed on the taking lens barrel whenever the taking lens barrel is mounted on the camera body. Signal transmitting means is disposed on the taking lens barrel for receiving a signal from the shutter release button disposed on the camera body.

Abstract: A focus detector of image correlation type projects an image of an object onto a first and a second array of photoelectric transducer elements. Each of the transducer elements produces an output in accordance with the distribution of light intensity of image incident thereon. A characteristic point is retrieved from the distribution of outputs from the first array, and a corresponding characteristic point is retrieved from the distribution of outputs from the second array which corresponds to the first mentioned characteristic point. An in-focus condition is detected on the basis of the relative position between those transducer elements which produce outputs for these characteristic points.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning an endoscope, a stop having a communication path is mounted on the open ends of an air/liquid supply valve cylinder and a suction valve cylinder of the endoscope so that liquid may flow between the valve cylinders through the communication path. One end of a suction channel, which opens to the distal end of an insertion section of the endoscope, is connected to a liquid tank through a liquid supply tube. An air supply pump is connected to the tank. The pump is operated in this state and supplies the liquid held in the tank to the one end of the suction channel. The liquid supplied to the one end of the suction channel is discharged from a nozzle at the distal end of the insertion section and the other ends of the suction channel, an air supply channel and a liquid supply channel, which open to a connector mounted on a light guide of the endoscope, through the three channels and the valve cylinders, thereby cleaning the interior of these channels and valve cylinders.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning the channels of an endoscope, one end of a suction channel and a nozzle, both positioned at the distal end of an insertion section of the endoscope, are connected. The open ends of an air/liquid supply cylinder and a suction valve cylinder, both provided within a control section of the endoscope, are closed. The ends of an air supply channel and a liquid supply channel, which open to a connector mounted on the distal end of a light guide cable, are connected to a liquid supply tube which is in contact with liquid. The other end of the suction channel, which opens to the connector, is connected to a suction pump by a suction tube. The pump is operated and sucks the liquid from the other end of the suction channel through the air supply channel, liquid supply channel, suction channel and valve cylinders, thereby cleaning the interior of the channels and valve cylinders with the liquid.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning an endoscope, the open end of a suction valve cylinder, arranged within a control section of the endoscope, is closed by a stop. A cap is mounted on the distal end of an insertion section so that liquid may flow between a nozzle and a suction opening which are arranged at the distal end of the insertion section. The nozzle communicates with an air supply channel and a liquid supply channel, and the suction opening communicates with a suction channel. A stop is mounted on the open end of an air/liquid supply valve cylinder arranged in the control section, and a syringe is connected to the stop. The piston of the syringe is pushed, thus supplying liquid in the cylinder of the syringe into the cylinder and discharging the liquid from the other ends of the three channels through the channels and the valve cylinders, thereby cleaning the interiors of these channels and valve cylinders with the liquid.

Abstract: A focussing condition detector effects a photoelectric conversion of a focussing condition on the imaging plane of a focussing lens. An output from the conversion is subject to an arithmetic operation which derives an evaluation value according to a given formula. The evaluation value is compared against a decision level in order to produce a decision output which indicates whether the focussing condition achieved by the focussing lens is in an in-focus or an out-of-focus condition. A decision level is offset from a threshold value between two regions each representing the in-focus and the out-of-focus condition, respectively, in both directions. When an evaluation value moves from the region representing the in-focus condition into the other region representing the out-of-focus condition, one of the decision levels which is offset in one direction from the threshold value is used. When the evaluation value moves in the opposite direction, the other decision level is used.

Abstract: An in-focus indicator for a camera includes a focussing condition detector which is adapted to produce a forward focussing signal and a backward focussing signal. An RS-flipflop forms a set signal save circuit which is set at an in-focus position where a switching occurs between the levels of the forward focussing signal and backward focussing signal. When the save circuit is set, an element is activated for a given time interval to produce sound. The detector is also adapted to produce an in-focus zone signal, and the set signal save circuit is reset when the level of the in-focus zone signal changes in response to a movement of the focal point out of the in-focus zone.

Abstract: A camera with an electrical shutter comprises auxiliary shutter closing means which is responsive to an electrical signal supplied from an electronic flash to operate a photometric circuit of the camera in a normal manner. During a flash photographing operation using an electronic flash, if an amount of light incident on a light receiving element in the photometric circuit is less than a given value, an electrical signal which is supplied by the electronic flash upon occurrence of the flashlight illumination from a flash discharge tube is applied to the auxiliary closing means, thereby forcibly closing the shutter.

Abstract: A control circuit for a power supply associated with an electronic flash unit prevents a wasteful power dissipation of a power supply cell which is internally housed within an electronic flash unit, by automatically interrupting the operation of a voltage booster contained within the electronic flash unit in response to an output from a timer circuit which is internally housed within photographic camera whenever the camera is not operated over a given time interval.

Abstract: A pneumatic snow tire for use in vehicles traveling on snow roads includes main circumferential grooves each consisting of circumferential groove components and bias groove components to form zigzag grooves whose zigzag amplitude in width directions of the tread is more than a width of the main circumferential grooves and bias grooves oblique to circumferential directions of the tire extending from connections of the circumferential and bias grooves components of the main circumferential grooves for connecting between the main circumferential grooves and between them and tread edges. With the tread pattern according to the invention, the tire scarcely clogs the grooves in the tread with snow and fully utilizes forces of snow columns at the tread surface without collapsing the snow caught in the grooves, thereby improving its driving and braking performances and achieving the prevention of noise in traveling.