Abstract:
A superwide-angle lens system includes a negative first lens group, an aperture diaphragm, and a positive second lens group. The first lens group includes two negative meniscus lens elements, and a positive lens element. The second lens group includes a cemented lens having negative and positive lens elements; and a positive lens element. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: −1.45
Abstract:
A built-in flash pop-out mechanism comprises a shaft member movable along a first axis; an arm member where one end is pivotally fixed at an end of the shaft member about a second axis; a flash-support member pivotally fixed at the other end of the arm member about a third axis; a first biasing member biasing the shaft member along the first axis; a second biasing member biasing the arm member about the second axis; a third biasing member biasing the flash-support member about the third axis. The built-in flash is extended from a camera body with coplanar motions that pop out the built-in flash to increase its distance from an optical axis. The motions include a translation of the shaft member along the first axis and rotations of the arm member and flash-support member about the second and third axes.
Abstract:
A diaphragm control apparatus is provided with a controller. When a photographing lens is attached to a camera body and a power switch is turned from ON to OFF, a drive motor first moves a diaphragm device to a minimum aperture, and thereafter the drive motor is switched from power ON to OFF. Thus, any damage to the inside of camera body due to sunlight entering into the opening of the diaphragm device can be prevented, and also the structure of camera body can be simplified by reducing the number of parts.
Abstract:
A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, and a shock-absorbing member. The shock-absorbing member is held at a stand-by position with a pressure receiving portion thereof spaced from a contact portion provided on the mirror when the mirror is at the viewfinder light-guiding position or the retracted position. When the mirror rotates between the viewfinder light-guiding position and the retracted position, the contact portion presses the pressure receiving portion to move the shock-absorbing member against the biaser, the shock-absorbing member returns to the stand-by position after the pressing of the contact portion is released, and bouncing of the mirror is limited by a contact engagement between the contact portion and the pressure receiving portion.
Abstract:
A zoom adjustment system, comprising a touch panel, a course detector, and a first zoom adjuster, is provided. The touch panel has an input surface. The touch panel detects a certain location on the input surface when it is touched. The touch panel detects a touched location. The course detector detects a course traced on the input surface by the touched location when the touched location is moved about on the input surface while maintaining continuous contact with the input surface. The first zoom adjuster adjusts a magnification of a photographic optical system according to the traced course detected by the course detector.
Abstract:
An imaging apparatus capable of capturing a moving image with an imaging device is equipped with a first image-processing device that uses hardware to process images captured by the imaging device and a second image-processing device that processes captured images with software. The imaging apparatus includes an image-processing switching device that selectively operates one of either the first image-processing device or the second image-processing device. The imaging apparatus includes a light-detection device that detects the amount of light received by the imaging device and a sensitivity adjustment device that increases the sensitivity of the imaging device as the amount of light decreases. The image-processing switching device operates the first image-processing device when the sensitivity is lower than a predetermined value and operates the second image-processing device when the sensitivity is higher than the predetermined value.
Abstract:
An imaging device is provided that includes an imaging processor, a distance information detector, an outline-component maximum image detector, and a distance information correcting processor. The imaging processor captures a plurality of secondary images of the same object at different lens positions. The distance information detector detects distance information of the objects captured in each area of an image based on the sum of outline components in each of the areas in each of the secondary images. The outline-component maximum image detector calculates the sum of outline components for each of the secondary images and detects an image with the maximum sum. The distance information correcting processor replaces distance information of a target area, where the sum of outline components is less than a threshold value, with distance information of the image with the maximum sum.
Abstract:
A method of automatically tracking and photographing celestial objects which captures a still image of a celestial object(s) where each celestial object appears stationary simply by making an exposure with a camera directed toward an arbitrary-selected celestial object and fixed with respect to the ground and without using an equatorial, and also a camera that employs this method. The method includes inputting latitude information at a photographic site, photographing azimuth angle information, photographing elevation angle information, attitude information of a photographic apparatus and focal length information of a photographing optical system; calculating movement amounts of the celestial object image relative to the photographic apparatus, for fixing the celestial object image with respect to the predetermined imaging area of an image pickup device, using all of the input information; and obtaining a photographic image by moving at least one of the predetermined imaging area and the celestial object image.
Abstract:
Optical equipment capable of stopping a lens in a position producing no image blur and requiring low power consumption is provided. The optical equipment includes a lens driving unit for driving a focusing lens. The equipment further includes a drive-setting unit configured to set an optimal drive amount for positioning the focusing lens at an appropriate focal depth while minimizing the amount of power consumed in the process. The optical equipment includes a lens position-control unit that controls the lens driving unit based on the drive amount set by the drive-setting unit controlling the movement of the focusing lens. The lens position-control unit can stop the lens in a position producing no image blur and requiring low power consumption.
Abstract:
A rotational joint is provided that comprises a first member, second member, rotational shaft member, rotational biasing member and stop ring. The first member has a pair of sidewalls that face each other. The second member has a pair of plate members each disposed proximate to the outer-facing sides of the sidewalls. The rotational shaft member is fitted into shaft holes in each of the plate members and the sidewalls. The rotational biasing member is disposed around the rotational shaft member and its one end is engaged with the first member and the other end with the stop ring fixed to the rotational shaft member. The first member is rotatable with respect to the rotational shaft member that is fixed to the second member. The rotational biasing member and stop ring are disposed between the sidewalls.