Nikon Corporation

Junichi Yanai

Kazuyuki Kazami

Hideki Matsui

Norikazu Yokonuma

Hideo Hibino

Nobuyoshi Hagiuda

Youichi Yamazaki

An illumination apparatus including a light source that emits illumination light, an optical member that transmits the illumination light to externally project the illumination light, and a reflector that reflects illumination light from the light source towards the optical member, the device comprising: a drive device to drive the reflector and the light source to advance and retract in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a light projection surface of the optical member; and a relative movement device to cause the light source to relatively move relative to the reflector in a process of driving to advance and retract by way of the drive device, wherein the relative movement device includes a straight guide member that causes the light source to move straight ahead in the substantially perpendicular direction relative to the reflector.

Illumination apparatus

To provide a flash apparatus and a camera provided with the same which can carry out more appropriate adjustment of the light distribution field angle. An electronic flash apparatus with a variable light distribution field angle wherein the light distribution field angle is determined according to a focal length of a photographic lens and a photographic region on an imaging area, comprising a plurality of light distribution field angles corresponding to one combination of one of the focal length and one of the photographic region, and one light distribution field angle is selectable from among the plurality of light distribution field angles.

Electronic flash apparatus adjusting a light distribution field angle and camera provided with the same

A magnetic head device for reading and recording information from a magnetic recording section of a photographic film has a recording head and a playback head. The playback head and recording head are adjacently positioned by a head base plate. The head base plate rotatably supports the recording head and playback head as the head base plate rotates about a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft. The first rotation shaft extends in a direction of the film defined by movement of the film as film is wound onto a winding spool within a film cartridge. The second rotation shaft extends in a width direction of the film, perpendicular to the first rotation shaft. As a result the recording head and playback head make contact with the film to improve consistency of the playback and reading of information from the magnetic section of the film.

Magnetic head device including a playback head and a recording head maintaining contact with a film

Flash unit for a camera includes a flash illumination device which illuminates during imaging operations of the camera, and a housing encasing the flash illumination device. The housing is made from a material that transmits infrared light emitted by the flash illumination device to an area outside of the housing. Also disclosed is a camera that includes a built-in flash unit that further includes a flash illumination device which illuminates during operations of the camera. The camera also includes a housing that encases the built-in flash illumination unit. The housing, like the housing of the flash unit, is made from a material that transmits infrared light emitted by the flash illumination device to an area outside of the housing. Also provided is a command module for use by a camera in controlling another device. The command module includes an infrared light source, and a housing that encases the infrared light source. The housing is made from a material that transmits infrared light emitted by the infrared light source to an area outside of the housing. The light emitted by the infrared light source and which is transmitted by the housing is used to control another device. The command module also includes a coupling member connected to the housing for coupling the housing to the camera. The coupling member permits the camera to control the infrared light source.

Housing for camera flash control components and circuitry

A camera capable of magnetic recording information on a first magnetic recording region and a second magnetic recording region provided on a film, comprises: a signal generating circuit which generates a first recording signal having a first frequency for information which is to be recorded on the first magnetic recording region, and which generates a second recording signal having a second frequency which is lower than the first frequency for information which is to be recorded on the second magnetic recording region; and a recording device which, in synchronization with the feeding of the film, records information using the first recording signal on the first magnetic recording region, and records information using the second recording signal on the second magnetic recording region.

Growing community of inventors

Chigasaki, Japan

Junichi Yanai