Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element which accumulates received light as a charge, a mechanical shutter which travels to shield the image sensing element, and a scan unit which makes a scan for starting charge accumulation. The image sensing apparatus executes the scan for starting charge accumulation prior to traveling of the mechanical shutter and controls the scan for starting charge accumulation and traveling of the shutter to serve as a front curtain and a rear curtain of a shutter. Note that a scan pattern setting unit (113b) sets the scan pattern of the charge accumulation start scan based on information associated with a mounted photographing lens.

Abstract: A camera for acquiring a sequence of frames of a scene as a video includes a sensor with an array of sensor pixels. Individual sensor pixels are modulated by corresponding modulation functions while acquiring each frame of the video. The modulation can be performed by a transmissive or reflective masked arranged in an optical path between the scene and the senor. The frames can be reconstructed to have a frame rate and spatial resolution substantially higher than a natural frame rate and a spatial resolution of the camera.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging device including an imaging element, an imaging controller, first and second shutter members, and a shutter controller. The imaging element carries out photoelectric conversion of subject image light incident through a lens and produces an imaging signal. The imaging controller controls readout of the imaging signal and carries out control of change setting of a frame cycle of imaging. The shutter members are disposed on an optical path of image light incident and can set a state in which incident light on the imaging element is blocked and a state in which incident light on the imaging element is not blocked. The shutter controller sets a timing at which the optical path is blocked by the first shutter member and a timing at which the optical path is blocked by the second shutter member.

Abstract: A method of operating an image pickup system includes generating a first control signal in response to a long duration exposure mode selectively input by a user, setting circuits to process image data associated with modes other than long duration exposure mode to a standby mode in response to the first control signal, generating a second control signal when the standby mode has been established, opening a shutter in response to the second control signal, and performing a long duration exposure to accumulate a charge corresponding to an optical signal incident on an image sensor of the image pickup system when the shutter is open.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for infrared imagers including fast electrostatic shutters and offset compensation. Fast electrostatic shutters are used for video image correction including image offset compensation where temporal noise and scene nonuniformity are corrected. This method provides a shutterless experience for the user because the image will be blocked for only one frame at a time. A method of manufacturing an electrostatic infrared shutter includes a conductive infrared-transparent substrate, covering it with an insulating layer, depositing adhesive and a thin film stack, delineating a working area, providing contacts, heat-treating the assembly, and making the polymer non-reflective in the infrared.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same may reduce a photographing time by performing an operation of reading out data, an operation of closing an iris, and an operation of opening a shutter in parallel.

Abstract: An imaging method includes a step of setting, when a digital zoom operation mode for enlarging an image imaged by a imaging part of an X-Y address type is selected, a zoom magnification and enlarging the image at the zoom magnification set. The imaging method includes the steps of: setting an imaging range in a vertical direction of the imaging part according to the zoom magnification set in the digital zoom step; outputting a driving signal for scanning the shutter signal and the readout signal to perform exposure in the imaging range set in the imaging range setting step and driving the imaging part; and discarding, when the zoom magnification is changed in the digital zoom step, images imaged by the imaging part before and after the change of the zoom magnification to prevent the images from being used.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging device including: an imaging element configured to carry out photoelectric conversion of subject image light incident through a lens and produce a video signal; an imaging element controller configured to control timing of readout of the video signal from the imaging element; a circular disk shutter configured to have a light-blocking part and a passage part, the shutter being driven to rotate by a motor; a shutter position detector configured to detect a rotational position of the shutter; and a shutter controller configured to control a rotational speed of the shutter and cause the imaging element controller to start readout of a video signal from the imaging element when the light-blocking part of the shutter is located in front of the imaging element based on information on the rotational position of the shutter, detected by the shutter position detector.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device generating an image signal on a subject image; a shooting control mechanism dividing an exposure to be made to the imaging device in an exposure period into a plurality of times of exposures; an adding mechanism adding individual image signals obtained by the plurality of divided exposures in sequence to generate a sum image signal; an amplification control mechanism amplifying the sum image signal using a predetermined amplification factor in a first period in the exposure period to generate an amplified image signal; and a display control mechanism displaying, on a display section, the amplified image based on the amplified image signal in the first period, and displaying, on a display section, an image based on the sum image signal in a period other than the first period in the exposure period.

Abstract: Embodiments of invention disclose a system and a method for increasing a temporal resolution of a substantially periodic signal. The method acquires a signal as an input sequence of frames having a first temporal resolution, wherein the signal is a substantially periodic signal, wherein the frames in the input sequence of frames are encoded according to an encoded pattern; and transforms the input sequence of frames into an output sequence of frames having a second temporal resolution, such that the second temporal resolution is greater than the first temporal resolution, wherein the transforming is based on a sparsity of the signal in Fourier domain.

Abstract: An imaging method includes a step of setting, when a digital zoom operation mode for enlarging an image imaged by a imaging part of an X-Y address type is selected, a zoom magnification and enlarging the image at the zoom magnification set. The imaging method includes the steps of: setting an imaging range in a vertical direction of the imaging part according to the zoom magnification set in the digital zoom step; outputting a driving signal for scanning the shutter signal and the readout signal to perform exposure in the imaging range set in the imaging range setting step and driving the imaging part; and discarding, when the zoom magnification is changed in the digital zoom step, images imaged by the imaging part before and after the change of the zoom magnification to prevent the images from being used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a photographing apparatus, the photographing apparatus and a control program, which are capable of automatically determining a photographing mode capable of generating a sharper image. If a first exposure time is equal to or shorter than a first threshold value, a control circuit 18 makes a decision to take an input image in a first mode. The first exposure time is an exposure time required for taking one input image on the assumption that a photographing operation is carried out in the first mode for generating one output image by taking one input image. If the first exposure time is neither equal to nor shorter than the first threshold value, on the other hand, the control circuit 18 makes a decision to take a plurality of input images in a second mode provided that a second exposure time is equal to or shorter than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A camera shutter mechanism for covering and exposing an imaging sensor array is disclosed. The camera shutter mechanism includes a rotary motor, a crank mechanism, a cover, a guide, and a drive circuit. The rotary motor is coupled to the crank mechanism to rotate the crank mechanism about a central axis. The cover is coupled to the crank mechanism at a point away from the central axis. The drive circuit controls the rotary motor so that the cover moves back and forth repeatedly in a substantially linear motion along the guide between a shutter closed position and a shutter open position over the imaging sensor array. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital motion picture camera including at least one optoelectronic sensor device for the recording of motion pictures. The sensor device has, in an areal arrangement, a plurality of sensor elements for the generation of a respective received signal in dependence on a light exposure. The camera further has a control device for the controlling of the read-out of the received signals of the sensor elements as well as a digitizing device for the digitizing of the received signals. The camera moreover has an optical viewfinder for the visual observation of the motion pictures to be recorded and a beam deflection device which is interposed in front of the sensor device and by which the reception beam path can be split at least into one recording beam path for the sensor device and one viewfinder beam path for the optical viewfinder.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: a synchronizing signal generation portion (6); an imaging portion (1) that is operated based on a synchronizing signal to pick up an image and generate image data; a trigger input portion (18) operable to input a trigger signal for commanding a start of a photographing operation; and a control portion (5) that controls the operation of the imaging portion based on the synchronizing signal and the trigger signal. The control portion controls synchronous processing that is performed in synchronization with the synchronizing signal to pickup a moving image. When the trigger signal is input, the control portion immediately stops the generation of the synchronizing signal by the synchronizing signal generation portion when the synchronous processing is not being performed, while the control portion initializes the synchronous processing and then stops the generation of the synchronizing signal when the synchronous processing is being performed.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having an electronic shutter for controlling the charge accumulation time of an image sensing element and a mechanical shutter for releasing/shielding an optical path to the image sensing element includes an electronic shutter mode of controlling the image sensing time mainly by the electronic shutter and a mechanical shutter mode of controlling the image sensing time mainly by the mechanical shutter. In the electronic shutter mode, the operations of the electronic and mechanical shutters are controlled to overlap each other, and a charge reading period of the image sensing element and part of a release operation period of the mechanical shutter are controlled to overlap each other.

Abstract: Some embodiments comprise at least one array that includes microelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”)-based light-modulating devices. Elements of the array(s) may be configured to absorb and/or reflect light when in a first configuration and to transmit light when in a second position. Such an array may be controlled to function as a camera aperture and/or as a camera shutter. For example, a controller may cause the array to function as a shutter by causing the MEMS devices to open for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may be based, at least in part, on input received from a user, the intensity of ambient light, the intensity of a flash, the size of the camera aperture, etc. Some embodiments provide a variable aperture device that does not add significant thickness or cost to a camera module. Such embodiments may enable a camera to function well in both bright and dark light, to control depth of field, etc.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor configured to operate in a line-sequential manner and a shutter device operatively coupled to the image sensor. The shutter device includes regions configured to switch between substantially open states and substantially closed states such that after a first exposure for a first frame is finished, a second exposure for a second frame is started.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for determining an optimal shutter fluttering sequence. The disclosed approach is based on the use of shutter flutter technology, which means that an image can be acquired in such a manner as to encode all information about the moving subject. The disclosed approach involves determining a shutter's fluttering pattern that optimally encodes information at all frequencies. The disclosed approach involves an optimization method for finding a shutter fluttering pattern that maximizes the minimum value of a function defining the plurality of flutter shutter sequences over a frequency domain. The disclosed approach involves eliminating all flutter shutter sequences that contain lost frequencies. The objective of the disclosed approach is to select an optimal flutter shutter sequence for implementation with a flutter shutter camera.

Abstract: Systems and methods using the same to achieve a camera having precise timing of a camera shutter, which can be used also for a controllable aperture, are disclosed. The aperture can be controlled continuously and can therefore be used for video cameras. The shutter system is controlled by a feedback loop. The shutter blades are moved by at least one linear motor, a position sensor senses the actual position and speed of the blades. The movement of the blades can be stopped any time to get an aperture desired. For capturing an image in a first step a global reset is opening (activating) every pixel of the image sensor after the shutter is opened. In order to achieve a short active light exposure time (below 1 ms), after the global reset, the mechanical shutter invented closes rapidly after a defined active light exposure time. An active light exposure time is the time span between the image sensor is activated and the mechanical shutter is closed.

Abstract: A method for real-time adjusting image capture frequency by an image detection apparatus comprises: sensing the frames consecutively by an image detection unit; setting a value for a counting variable; selecting a testing frame from the frames and comparing an image displacement between the testing frame and a previous frame thereof, to obtain a motion reference signal by a processing unit; providing a plurality of adjustable values for a capturing frequency variable by a memory unit and corresponding either one of the capturing frequency variable values to the motion reference signal; comparing the value of the counting variable to that of the capturing frequency variable by the processing unit; capturing and recording the testing frame as a sampling frame while the counting variable value reaches that of the capturing frequency variable; comparing an image displacement between the sampling frame and a previous frame thereof, to obtain an ultimate motion speed.

Abstract: A method for resetting image sensing and an image sensing device using the same are provided. The method for resetting image sensing includes generating a plurality of reset signals and a plurality of control signals, and using the reset signals and the control signals to control a pixel array to reset and expose. The pixel array has a plurality of pixel blocks, each of the pixel blocks has a plurality of pixel sensing units. When the plurality of pixel sensing units of one of the pixel blocks expose to acquire a plurality of sensing signals sequentially, the plurality of pixel sensing units of another one of the pixel blocks are reset.

Abstract: Embodiments of invention disclose a system and a method for increasing a temporal resolution of a substantially periodic signal. The method acquires a signal as an input sequence of frames having a first temporal resolution, wherein the signal is a substantially periodic signal, wherein the frames in the input sequence of frames are encoded according to an encoded pattern; and transforms the input sequence of frames into an output sequence of frames having a second temporal resolution, such that the second temporal resolution is greater than the first temporal resolution, wherein the transforming is based on a sparsity of the signal in Fourier domain.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus having a simple structure that enables reduction of shutter release time lag and shutter control with highly accurate shutter time.

Abstract: A digital camera that is an image pickup device includes: a sensor; a background portion movement speed calculating unit configured to calculate a movement speed of a background portion of a subject from a plurality of images picked up by the sensor; and a shutter speed calculating unit configured to calculate a shutter speed from the movement speed and a predetermined image flow quantity.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for solid state electronically switched optical shutters of cameras and other devices. The disclosed non-mechanical camera shutter includes an electronically controlled material that provides optical density variation, to transition the shutter from being open to being closed. The layer of electronically controlled material is configured to change from substantially to transparent to substantially opaque, without scattering, by changing the state of the material. The transmittance period is the period of time that the layer changes transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0%. Electronic circuitry is in communication with a timing control module that is configured to provide a signal output to a transparent conductive layer proximal to the layer of electronically controlled material to initiate a change in its transmissivity. The described electronically switched optical component would add little or no additional bulk to a small camera.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element which accumulates received light as a charge, a mechanical shutter which travels to shield the image sensing element, and a scan unit which makes a scan for starting charge accumulation. The image sensing apparatus executes the scan for starting charge accumulation prior to traveling of the mechanical shutter and controls the scan for starting charge accumulation and traveling of the shutter to serve as a front curtain and a rear curtain of a shutter. Note that a scan pattern setting unit (113b) sets the scan pattern of the charge accumulation start scan based on information associated with a mounted photographing lens.

Abstract: A shutter device mounted in a compact device such as a camera or mobile phone is provided. The shutter device includes, a base which forms a light permeation hole through which a film or a charge coupled device (CCD) is exposed to a light; a first and second electromagnets which are mounted to opposite sides of the base; a driving arm in which one end is rotatably assembled with a side of the base between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet; a first and second shutters which open or close the light permeation hole while concurrently rotating about a part of the base in association with the rotation of the driving arm; and a magnetic which is mounted to an end of the driving arm, and rotates the driving arm in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction while moving by the magnetic force between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet along a direction of an electric current applied to the first and second electromagnets.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array section having a plurality of unit pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion element, arranged therein; driving means for performing a shutter operation for removing charge stored in the photoelectric conversion element and a read operation for reading the charge of an electric signal that is obtained by the photoelectric conversion of the photoelectric conversion element and is then stored in the photoelectric conversion element; and control means, when a unit pixel driving mode is changed from a first driving mode to a second driving mode in the units of frames, for changing the shutter operation to the second driving mode while keeping the read operation in the first driving mode for a period corresponding to one frame in the current frame, and changing the read operation to the second driving mode in the next frame.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus that detects a moving object included in an input image, establishes a shutter speed according to an amount of movement of the moving object, and performs a capturing operation based on the established shutter speed, and a method of controlling the digital image processing apparatus are provided. The method includes: receiving an input image; detecting a moving object in the input image; measuring an amount of movement of the moving object; and establishing a shutter time for a capturing operation according to the amount of movement of the moving object and according to at least one of: an established file size of an image to be captured or an established image size of the image to be captured.

Abstract: A method of operating an image pickup system includes generating a first control signal in response to a long duration exposure mode selectively input by a user, setting circuits to process image data associated with modes other than long duration exposure mode to a standby mode in response to the first control signal, generating a second control signal when the standby mode has been established, opening a shutter in response to the second control signal, and performing a long duration exposure to accumulate a charge corresponding to an optical signal incident on an image sensor of the image pickup system when the shutter is open.

Abstract: Foreign substances adhered to a focal plane shutter are shaken off by vibrationally driving the shutter a plurality of times in succession while the focal plane shutter, which controls the incidence of light on a photoelectric transducer converting an optical image of a photographic object into an electrical signal, shields the photoelectric transducer from light incident thereon. In other words, implementing vibrational removal of adhered foreign substances by means of overloading the focal plane shutter.

Abstract: Rotary shutter assemblies for imaging photometers and methods for using such shutters are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a method for capturing an image with an imaging photometer can include positioning a rotary shutter having an aperture at a first position such that the shutter blocks light traveling along an optical axis from a light source being measured to an image sensor of the photometer. The method can include pivotably moving the shutter at a generally constant angular speed to a second position with the aperture aligned with the optical axis to expose at least a portion of the image sensor to the light for a first predetermined exposure time.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an electrical charge storage-type image-capturing element that stores an electrical charge by receiving subject light; a shielding member that allows the subject light to pass to the image-capturing element or blocks the subject light to the image-capturing element; an electromagnetic actuator used to drive the shielding member at least in a closing direction; a storage control device that starts an electrical charge storage at the image-capturing element after a time point at which the shielding member is detected to be in an open state allowing the subject light to pass and ends the electrical charge storage once a preset length of exposure time elapses; and a shield control device that outputs an instruction for driving the shielding member in the closing direction to the electromagnetic actuator before the electrical charge storage ends.

Abstract: A first cam gear (a shutter cam gear) and a second cam gear (a mirror cam gear) are driven to successively realize a first phase (a stop phase), a second phase (a live view phase), and a third phase (a shooting phase).

Abstract: A camera may comprise a lens assembly to receive optical information from a subject and a shutter assembly comprising a blade, a base plate to pivotally support the blade, and a wire to move the blade in response to a current. The camera may include an image sensor to selectively record optical information passing through the shutter.

Abstract: An image input apparatus that includes a solid-state image sensing device having a plurality of pixels; a shutter having a front curtain and a rear curtain for opening and blocking an optical path to the solid-state image sensing device; a shutter-curtain sensor that senses passage of the front and rear curtains at a plurality of positions; and a reset unit that resets pixels of the solid-state image sensing device successively before the sensor senses passage of the rear curtain upon elapse of a prescribed period of time after the sensor senses passage of said front curtain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera chip (C) for image acquisition. It is characterized in that pixel groups (P1, P2, . . . ) may be exposed at different times with the aid of shutter signals (S1, S2, . . . ).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical unit for focusing light on an image-forming plane; a solid-state image pickup unit for photo-electrically converting light; a data transfer unit for controlling transfer of image data; a substrate disposed in an imaging optical path of the imaging optical unit and provided with an exposure aperture; a shutter blade for closing the exposure aperture at a closed position and opening the exposure aperture at an open position; a shutter driving unit having an exciting coil for driving the shutter blade between the closed position and the open position; and a control unit for controlling the shutter driving unit. A blade restriction member is provided for restricting a motion of the shutter blade at the closed position. A shutter blade holding unit is provided for holding the shutter blade at the open position when no driving current is supplied to the exciting coil.

Abstract: A noise restraint apparatus for a digital camera which has an imaging device for imaging a photographic subject, comprises an outputting processor and a controlling processor. The outputting processor outputs a vertical synchronous signal to the imaging device. The controlling processor controls an output cycle with which the outputting processor outputs the vertical synchronous signal. The output cycle has a first cycle, for a first period which is the period before an exposure operation, in which a photographic subject is imaged by the imaging device, and a second cycle which is longer than the first cycle, for a second period, while the exposure operation is performed.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup section that picks up images to obtain picked-up-image-data items, a temporarily retaining section that temporarily retains the picked-up-image-data items, a storage-process section that performs a storage process on the picked-up-image-data items, a movement-detecting section that detects a movement of the image-pickup apparatus, an operation section that performs a shutter operation, and a control section that causes the temporarily retaining section to retain picked-up-image-data items in a shutter-operation period, that selects, on the basis of detection results obtained by the movement-detecting section in the shutter-operation period, a picked-up-image-data item from among the retained picked-up-image-data items, and that causes the storage-process section to perform the storage process on the selected picked-up-image-data item.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for controlling a shutter of a still or video camera or cellular telephone, to reduce blurring due to motion of vibrations are disclosed. The control device includes an inertial sensor for measuring acceleration, velocity and/or angular rotation and for providing data therefrom and a controller for calculating an acceleration amplitude and frequency for predicting the time between acceleration maximums. The controller opens and closes the camera shutter at a time corresponding to the predicted time between maximum accelerations as measured from a real-time acceleration maximum, negating the need for post-imaging correction.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an image-capturing element that captures an image formed with subject light; a shielding member that allows the subject light to pass through to the image-capturing element or blocks the subject light; a first electromagnetic actuator used for opening/closing drive of the shielding member; a holding member that holds the shielding member at least either an open state in which the shielding member allows the subject light to pass through or a closed state in which the shielding member blocks the subject light; a second electromagnetic actuator used for holding drive and hold release drive of the holding member; and a control device that controls driving of the first electromagnetic actuator and the second electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a digital photography device includes a rolling shutter, a sensor, and a flash are described. The sensor implements a rolling shutter timing mechanism. The shutter includes a material that has an alterable translucent state. The shutter is in the optical path of light going to the sensor. The flash generates a pulsed illumination. The alterable translucent state of the shutter controls the sensor's exposure to the photographic effects of ambient light during a picture using the pulsed illumination.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having an electronic shutter for controlling the charge accumulation time of an image sensing element and a mechanical shutter for releasing/shielding an optical path to the image sensing element includes an electronic shutter mode of controlling the image sensing time mainly by the electronic shutter and a mechanical shutter mode of controlling the image sensing time mainly by the mechanical shutter. In the electronic shutter mode, the operations of the electronic and mechanical shutters are controlled to overlap each other, and a charge reading period of the image sensing element and part of a release operation period of the mechanical shutter are controlled to overlap each other.

Abstract: System and method for capturing images with reduced blur. An embodiment includes an image sensor to capture optical information, a shutter coupled to the image sensor, a motion sensor to measure movement of an electronic device, and a processor coupled to the image sensor, to the shutter, and to the motion sensor. The shutter initiates a capturing of optical information, and the processor controls a state of the shutter based on predicted future movements of the electronic device based on movement information from the motion sensor. The predicted future movements permit a determination of image capture time to reduce blur.

Abstract: The video signal processor of the present invention comprises a CCD for storing an inputted image by converting it into an electric charge through photoelectrical conversion to be stored by each field and then outputting the stored electric charge by each field; a shutter pulse generator for supplying a shutter pulse which adjusts storage time of the electric charge in the CCD; and a variable controller for variably controlling adjusting amount of electric charge storage time by the shutter pulse by a field unit.

Abstract: A received light quantity detection device where high-sensitivity pixels and low-sensitivity pixels are formed is used for photometry. It is possible to perform measurement over the low range (for example, 0[EV] through 8[EV]with a single occasion of photometry. In the case that both the high-sensitivity pixels and the low-sensitivity pixels are saturated, it is possible to perform further measurement over the high range (for example, 8[EV] through 16[EV]) by narrowing the aperture or increasing the electronic shutter speed for retried photometry with a retried photometry. This reduces the time required to calculate a correct exposure value on image pickup apparatus such as a camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital motion picture camera including at least one optoelectronic sensor device for the recording of motion pictures. The sensor device has, in an areal arrangement, a plurality of sensor elements for the generation of a respective received signal in dependence on a light exposure. The camera further has a control device for the controlling of the read-out of the received signals of the sensor elements as well as a digitizing device for the digitizing of the received signals. The camera moreover has an optical viewfinder for the visual observation of the motion pictures to be recorded and a beam deflection device which is interposed in front of the sensor device and by which the reception beam path can be split at least into one recording beam path for the sensor device and one viewfinder beam path for the optical viewfinder.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus having an openable and closable shutter mechanism to protect an image pickup lens portion of a ultra-small and light-weight video camera, the shutter mechanism is composed of a drive mechanism 34 including an output shaft rotated by a motor 36 through a deceleration mechanism, a cam plate 24 engaged with the output shaft of the drive mechanism 34 to be rotated through a shaft mechanism coaxial with the output shaft, a shutter plate 23 engaged with a cam groove 27 of the cam plate 24 to be slidably lowered and elevated in the longitudinal direction of a video camera body portion to open and close the front surface of the image pickup lens portion and a clutch mechanism provided in the drive mechanism 34 to isolate a drive transmission system of the output shaft and the motor 36 when external force stronger than predetermined external force is applied to the shutter plate 23 which is being opened and closed.