Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Tetsuya Hashimoto

Hiroki Fukuoka

Takashi Ohkuma

An electronic camera and method of operating an electronic camera which detects whether an external device such as a personal computer is properly connected to the camera and in a state which permits communication. The camera monitors a data terminal ready (DTR) signal of an RS-232 connection in order to determine that the external device is properly connected and in a state which permits communication. Once the proper connection is detected, the camera can either transmit or receive images and/or audio from the external device. Accordingly, a specific switch which places the camera in a communication mode can be eliminated. Further, a single switch may be utilized for both controlling whether the camera records or plays images when there is no device connected, and which controls whether the camera transmits or receives images and/or audio when an external device is determined to be connected.

Digital camera which detects a connection to an external device

An imaging apparatus includes: a reading device that reads a recording file on which a plurality of groups of information of character strings are stored in advance; a displaying device that displays any one group of the plurality of groups of the information of character strings; a selecting device that selects one desired group of information of character strings from the plurality of groups of the information of character strings; and a recording device that records shooting completion information that indicates shooting corresponding to the one desired group of the information of character string has been completed on the recording file, when shooting is performed in a state where the one desired group of the information of character string is selected, wherein when one group of the plurality of groups of the information of character strings is selected and displayed, based on the shooting completion information, the displaying device displays the selected one group of the information of character strings, and a display of completed shooting information that indicates an image corresponding to the selected one group of the information of character strings has been shot together.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method for recording shooting completion information

An imaging apparatus that includes an image capturing unit that captures image data, a memory that stores the image data and a password for accessing the stored image data, an interface that receives an input requesting access to the stored image data and an input password, and a processor that compares the input password to the stored password and allow access to the stored image data when the input password matches the stored password, and deletes the password and the image data when the input password does not match the stored password.

Imaging apparatus and image capturing method for increasing security of a captured image file

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device for photographing a subject image to output as image data, a recording device for recording the image data as an image file, a wireless communication device, a partner device searching device for searching for a partner device of a wireless communication, and a wireless communication setting device for setting the wireless communication device to be effective or to be invalid, and when the wireless communication device is effectively set by the wireless communication setting device, the partner device searching device automatically starts the searching of the partner device with activation of the imaging device.

Imaging apparatus and wireless communication partner searching method

An image apparatus, including: a recording unit configured to record therein as an image file an image data generated through conversion from an optical image representing a photographed subject into an electrical signal; an interface for connecting the imaging apparatus to an external device; and a displaying unit configured to display an operation screen according to information about a capability processable by the external device transmitted from the external device.

Imaging apparatus and method of displaying an operation selection screen

A sample analyzing apparatus includes: an irradiation system which irradiates a charged particle onto a sample having a concave portion partially on a surface thereof; a light condensing reflecting mirror which condenses luminescence obtained from the surface based on the irradiation of the charged particle; a light detector which detects the luminescence guided to the light condensing reflecting mirror; a charged particle detector which detects the charged particle reflected from the surface of the sample as a reflection charged particle; and a signal processor which controls the irradiation system to irradiate the charged particle intermittently, which obtains a shape of the sample on the basis of a detection signal outputted from the charged particle detector, and which identifies a material of the sample on the basis of an attenuation characteristic of a detection signal outputted from the light detector in a period from a time point in which the intermittent irradiation of the charged particle by the irradiation system is ended to a time point in which the intermittent irradiation of the charged particle by the irradiation system is started.

Digital camera

Digital camera with external connection detection and mode switching capabilities

An electronic camera which detachably connects to a communication interface which allows the camera to communicate with an electronic device such as a personal computer. The communication interface includes circuitry which converts signals utilized by a microprocessor within the camera which are usually within a range of 0 to +5 volts to a level which is utilized to communicate with the computer. When an RS-232 connection is used to communicate between the camera and the computer, the circuitry within the communication interface converts the signals utilized by the camera to a level between -15 and -5 volts for a low signal and +5 and +15 volts for a high signal. The communication interface includes a mechanical connector having two latching mechanisms which connect to receiving members of the camera. The latching mechanisms pivot and are both moved by a single pushing member. The latching mechanisms are constructed as three level elements where the first level includes the latching member, the second level aligns with a level of a frame for supporting the latching mechanism, and the third level includes a surface against which the pushing member pushes.

External communication interface for a digital camera

An electronic camera for connection to an external device such as a personal computer. The camera captures both images and audio which are associated with the images. The image and associated audio are written into a memory of the camera along with information describing the relationship between the image and audio. In this manner, the image can be played or presented at the same time as the audio is presented to a user. When the image and associated audio are transmitted out of the camera to an external device such as a personal computer, no information is transmitted describing the relationship between the image and audio. The image and audio are received by the external device and written into memory. The relationship between the image and audio can be determined by the fact that the image and audio were transmitted at the same time as a unit of information. Subsequently, information describing the relationship between the image and audio is written into a memory of the external device along with the image and audio.

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Ichikawa, Japan

Tetsuya Hashimoto