Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a deviation of a camera as a result of a shaking. The apparatus includes a shaking detector which detects a deviation of the camera from shaking based upon an output of at least two pairs of acceleration sensors which are located on different axes of the camera coordinates. A calculator calculates tilt angles of each of the axes from outputs of the pairs of the acceleration sensors.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit is movable for an anti-shake operation. The controller controls the movable unit for the anti-shake operation, stops the anti-shake operation after an exposure time, moves the movable unit to a first position after the anti-shake operation, and holds the movable unit at the first position after the completion of a movement of the movable unit to the first position and until the photographing apparatus is set to a state where the next imaging operation can be performed. The first position is in a direction in which the movable unit would move according to the force of gravity, after the anti-shake operation is finished.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit is movable for an anti-shake operation. The controller moves the movable unit to a predetermined position over the course of a predetermined time length before the anti-shake operation commences. The controller moves the movable unit at a decelerated, low rate of speed before finishing its movement to the predetermined position. The anti-shake operation is performed after completion of the movement to the predetermined position.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The controller controls the movement of the movable unit for anti-shake operation. The controller controls the movement of the movable unit such as to hold the movable unit at a position without performing the anti-shake operation, for a specified time period that is a part of the time period from the point when the exposure time of the photographing apparatus is finished to the point when the photographing apparatus is set to a state where the next imaging operation can be performed. The position is the initial position where the movable unit is located when the specified time period commences.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The controller performs movement control of the movable unit for anti-shake operation. The movement control is set to the OFF state when the movable unit comes into contact with an end of its range of movement under a predetermined condition.

Abstract: The autofocus apparatus determines a focus position according to a result of sampling an AF evaluated value and drives a lens system to the focus position. This autofocus apparatus further performs a flash in synchronism with a sampling timing of an AF evaluated value.

Abstract: When the camera is performing the pan or tilt operation on performing image blurring correction, the image blurring correction is stopped and a vibration-proof lens is returned to a reference position at a speed that is changed according to a focal length of the zoom lens and is reduced if the zoom lens is set on a wide-side in particular so as to prevent a sense of discomfort due to swingback on the pan or tilt operation. The vibration-proof lens may be kept at a fixed position for a fixed time and returned to the reference position after the fixed time elapses so as to alleviate disorder of an image. The control subject for correcting the image blurring may be returned to the reference position by a predetermined function of which variable is time so as to exert control after stopping the image blurring correction on the pan or tilt operation suitably as intended.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image shake correction apparatus and a method of preventing the image shake of an image taken by the digital camera. The digital camera includes optical elements arranged along a bent line for focusing an object image upon a light receiving plane in which the elements include at least one mirror which reflects a light from an object toward the light receiving plane, a driver for moving the mirror so as to turn its light axis having been bent by the mirror, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration of a camera body, and a processor for making the driver move the mirror based on the sensed vibration. The mirror turns so as to cancel the vibration of the object image focussed on the light receiving plane.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising a first lens unit which comprises at least a negative lens element and at least a positive lens element and has negative refractive power, a second lens unit which has positive refractive power, and an optical path bending reflecting optical element which has a variable reflecting surface disposed in an airspace between a most object side lens component of the first lens unit and a most object side lens component of the second lens unit. This image pickup apparatus changes a magnification by moving the second lens unit along an optical axis and corrects a deviation of an image location by varying a shape of the variable reflecting surface of the reflecting optical element.

Abstract: Providing an interchangeable lens capable of carrying out quick focus from infinity to a close object with a magnification of almost life size by a light-weight moving lens group, exhibiting excellent imaging performance across an entire focusing range, and obtaining excellent imaging performance by a vibration reduction lens and its drive system appropriately arranged even upon vibration reduction. The lens includes a first group having positive power, a second group having negative power, a third group having positive power, and a fourth group having negative power. The fourth group includes a front group having negative power and a rear group having positive power. When the lens is vibrated, the lens corrects image blur by shifting the front group almost perpendicularly to an optical axis. When focusing from infinity to a close object, the first and the front groups are fixed and at least the third group is moved toward the object side.

Abstract: A method of enhancing resolution in an electronic imaging device includes capturing an electronic image through a fisheye lens with a photodetector at a resolution native to the photodetector. A resolution is selected that is higher than the native resolution of the photodetector. The electronic image is processed to produce a new electronic image at the higher resolution. A fisheye effect caused by the fisheye lens is removed during processing.

Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: an image-capturing element that converts light to an electrical signal; a photographic lens member that condenses subject light at the image-capturing element; a board on which the image-capturing element is mounted; and an elastic member having one end thereof secured to the photographic lens member and another end thereof secured to the board.

Abstract: The following lens apparatus is disclosed. That is, a lens apparatus, which forms an optical image by means of an image taking optical system, is detachably mountable to a camera comprising an image pickup device for photoelectric conversion of the optical image, comprising: an optical element, included in the abovementioned image taking optical system and being movable at least in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis; and a control circuit, which controls the driving of the optical element at an amplitude that is in accordance with information about the pixels of the image pickup device that has been acquired from the camera side. The lens apparatus, which can perform optimal control of the optical element even in combination with various digital cameras that respectively differ in the specifications concerning the pixels of the image pickup device, can thus be realized.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a deviation of a camera as a result of the camera shaking, for example resulting from a hand of the camera operator shaking. The apparatus includes a shaking detector which detects a deviation of the camera from shaking based upon an output of angular velocity sensors which are located on different axes of the camera coordinates. A calculator calculates tilt angles of each of the coordinate axes from outputs of the angular velocity sensors. The rotation regulator rotates an image pickup device around an optical axis of the camera or an axis in parallel with the optical axis.

Abstract: An optical device with an imaging device for forming an image of a subject with a lens device includes a lens unit, a movable member making the lens unit movable within a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens unit, an image pickup device imaging the subject image formed by the lens device, a fixed member limiting the movement of the movable member in the optical axis direction, at least three balls rolling between the movable and fixed member, a vibration detecting unit, and pitch and yaw direction drive units for driving the movable member in the pitch and yaw directions within the optical axis orthogonal plane, respectively. The pitch and yaw direction drive units press the movable member toward the fixed member side by means of magnetic pressing forces caused by magnetic attractive action between drive magnets and yokes.

Abstract: A lens moving mechanism for controlling and monitoring movement of an imaging lens, which includes a detection part, a state indication part having arranged in order thereof first, second and third areas, the first area for indicating a first state to the detection part, the second area for indicating a second state to the detection part, and the third area for indicating the first state to the detection part, a drive part for moving the detection part, relative to the state indication part, in a direction thereof, and an identification part for identifying a position of the lens based upon a sequence of indication of the first state and the second state by the state indication part to the detection part.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus wherein, when an image of an imaging object is picked up and converted into image data and the image data is compressed, the data amount can be reduced without deteriorating the picture quality. The image processing apparatus includes an image pickup section for picking up an image of an imaging object and converting the image into image data, a compression section for compressing the image data and outputting the compressed data, a detection section for detecting a data amount of the compressed data, and a control section for controlling an optical condition for the image picked up by the image pickup section in response to the data amount of the compressed data detected by the detection section. The compression section compresses the image data obtained by the conversion of the image pickup section based on the optical condition controlled by the control section.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a deviation of a camera as a result of a shaking. The apparatus includes a shaking detector which detects a deviation of the camera from shaking based upon an output of at least two pairs of acceleration sensors which are located on different axes of the camera coordinates. A calculator calculates tilt angles of each of the axes from outputs of the pairs of the acceleration sensors.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a function of correcting vibration of an image limits operation of a vibration correction unit in correspondence with the ratio of the correction amount as an output from the vibration correction unit to the maximum correction range of that unit.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image shake correction apparatus and a method of preventing the image shake of an image taken by the digital camera. The digital camera includes optical elements arranged along a bent line for focusing an object image upon a light receiving plane in which the elements include at least one mirror which reflects a light from an object toward the light receiving plane, a driver for moving the mirror so as to turn its light axis having been bent by the mirror, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration of a camera body, and a processor for making the driver move the mirror based on the sensed vibration. The mirror turns so as to cancel the vibration of the object image focussed on the light receiving plane.

Abstract: A shake compensating device for optical devices includes an optical system for forming an image of an object; a reflecting surface placed in the optical path of the optical system, a first substrate having a first electrode, placed adjacent to the reflecting surface; a second substrate fixed to an optical device, placed opposite to the first substrate and having a second electrode at a position opposite to the first electrode; a voltage control circuit for applying voltages across the first electrode and the second electrode, one of which is divided into a plurality of electrodes; and a detecting unit for detecting the shake angle of the optical device. In this case, the voltage control circuit controls the voltages applied across the divided electrodes and the other electrode opposite thereto in accordance with the output of the detecting unit.

Abstract: An information terminal for imaging a first object at a normal distance and a second object nearer than the first object readily with high precision. The information terminal has an imaging lens and an imaging device for capturing an image formed by the imaging lens. The imaging lens is a multifocal lens and composed of a first lens portion having a first focal length for imaging the first object (e.g., the user of the information terminal) at a normal distance and a second lens portion having a second focal length for imaging the second object (e.g., a bar code) nearer than the first object. The first and second lens portions are arranged on the same plane and formed in one piece.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a function of correcting vibration of an image limits operation of a vibration correction unit in correspondence with the ratio of the correction amount as an output from the vibration correction unit to the maximum correction range of that unit.

Abstract: A method and a handheld device for stabilizing an image captured by an optical lens of a micro camera integral with the handheld device, which may, for example, be a mobile phone. Motion sensors sense motion of the device and are used to cause movement of the micro camera to substantially compensate for the sensed movement so as to maintain a steady, focussed image to be displayed by a display on the handheld device or elsewhere, such as a remote display. The micro camera is moved by one or more motion actuators which move the camera in a horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the lens of the camera and/or move the camera so as to pivot the lens axis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a camera system including: optical member a camera control circuit which sends a vibration correction data with a first data length to a lens apparatus during an image-taking operation and sends a vibration correction data with a second data length shorter than the first data length to the lens apparatus during an image-taking preparation operation; a lens control circuit which controls a vibration correction driving unit based on the vibration correction data with the first data length, converts the vibration correction data with the second data length into data equivalent to vibration correction data with the first data length and controls the vibration correction driving unit based on the converted vibration correction data.

Abstract: The following lens apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: The locking apparatus of a vibration proof lens automatically unlocks a movable vibration proof correction lens (a vibration proof lens) when electric power is applied, and automatically locks the lens at power-down, thereby eliminating a lock operation of the user and improving safety at the time of conveyance. The vibration proof lens and the locking apparatus thereof are mounted in a vibration proof adapter mounted between a television camera body and a lens apparatus, or a lens apparatus body. A power supply detection device detects that a camera power supply or an external power supply is connected and power is applied to vibration proof circuits, and activates a driving system such as an actuator to release a lock mechanism. On the contrary, when detecting that power supply becomes OFF, the power supply detection device activates the lock mechanism through the driving system to lock the vibration proof lens.