Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.

Minolta Company, Ltd.

Hiroshi Mashima

Kazuhiro Shibatani

Mamoru Terada

Kazuaki Matsui

Tomohiro Matsumoto

Hideo Onishi

Naoki Hashimoto

A digital still camera switches an image sensor between moving picture shooting and still picture shooting. The digital still camera includes a variable-magnification optical system having a plurality of lens groups of which four are movable. At least one of the movable lens groups travels different movement trails for magnification variation between during zooming in moving picture shooting and during zooming in still picture shooting.

Image-taking apparatus, magnification variation control method, and lens unit

A rotating deviceis for rotating a vertically long drivable elementabout specified two axes (rotation axis A, rotation axis B) and is provided with a first and a second actuatorsA,B for giving torques to the drivable element, a pivot bearing portionas a rotation supporting point of the drivable element, a first and a second position detecting sensorsA,B for detecting the rotational posture of the drivable element, and a posture controller. Detecting portionsA,B of the first and second position detecting sensorsA,B are arranged on a straight line Lconnecting acting portionsA,B of the first and second actuatorsA,B and near the acting portionsA,B. The position of the drivable element can be detected by a simple construction and the drivable element can be quickly returned to an original position.

Rotating device, barrel unit, image sensing apparatus installed with the same

A barrel unit includes a barrel having an image sensing device and a photographing optical system built therein, a supporting member for pivotally supporting the barrel, a steel ball functioning as a pivot bearing portion provided between the barrel and the supporting member, and first and second actuators for giving driving forces to the barrel for shake correction. A gravity point of the barrel is located within an area enclosed by supporting points by first and second acting portions, to which the driving forces from the first and second actuators are given, and the steel ball. The barrel unit can be made more compact and more stably and precisely driven for shake correction.

Barrel unit, image pickup apparatus installed with the same, and method for correcting shake of barrel

An appartus, such as a binocular telescope, with an optical system which includes a long optical path. The binocular telescope includes a first objective lens, a second objective lens, a first prism, a second prism, and a group of eye piece lenses. A body of the second prism has an outer surface on which a film made of aluminum is deposited. A light which passes through the first objective lens is firstly reflected by an outer surface, or an exposed side, of the deposited film, and then reflected by an inner surface, or a side contacting the body of the second prism, of the film after the light passes through the second objective lens, the first prism and the second prism. The light reflected by the inner surface of the film is projected outside through the second prism and the eye piece lenses. The single deposited film serves as a pair of reflection elements within the optical system, so that the long optical path is secured therein.

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Sakai, Japan

Hiroshi Mashima