Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.

Olympus Corporation

Yasuo Isashi

Toshiyuki Toyofuku

Shigeo Hayashi

Fuminori Ueno

Kaoru Kaneko

This electronic imaging apparatus comprises in front of a body an open/close lid for protecting a picture-taking lens, the open/close lid where a strobe flashing unit is incorporated, and a housing, which is a structure of the body, and its exterior (members from a housing to its exterior) that are formed with conductive material, the electronic imaging apparatus wherein a trigger transformer for strobe flashing is also incorporated with the strobe flashing unit in the open/close lid for protecting the picture-taking lens, a part of the housing near to the strobe flashing unit is formed with a non-conductive clear member, and this clear member is constructed with including a flash transmitting surface portion making flash from the strobe flashing unit pass and a part that is a part except this flash transmitting surface portion and faces to a part of the back of a strobe reflector.

Protective lid having a flash unit incorporated therein for a digital camera

A photographic lens unit having a stepping motor to drive a cam ring that has a cam portion for driving a counter-cam portion of a lens frame for automatic focus of photographic lenses, and projections for driving a diaphragm. The cam ring is rotated for moving the counter-cam portion in an optical-axis direction with the counter-cam portion in contact with the cam portion. Automatic focus of the photographic lenses and photometry are carried out. Thereafter, the cam ring is further rotated so that the projection can bring the diaphragm to an aperture-narrowing state. The cam ring is then rotated reversely for moving the photographic lenses to an automatic focus position. Photographic operations are then carried out. After photography is completed, the diaphragm is reset by moving the counter-cam portion. The photographic lens unit is thus brought to a ready state for subsequent photography. According to this photographic lens unit, since the driven part enabling automatic focus and the diaphragm can be driven by a simple driving mechanism, the structure of the photographic lens unit can be simplified and a space occupied by the photographic lens unit can be limited.

Photographic lens unit and photographing method

A portable information processing apparatus includes a first member provided with an information display unit and a second member provided with an information input unit. The first member has an outer surface for exposing the information display unit, and the second member has an outer surface for exposing the information input unit. A hinge member pivotally connects the first and second members with each other so that the first and second members are pivotable between: (i) a portable position in which the first and second members overlap each such that the outer surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member oppose each other, and (ii) an open position in which the outer surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member are moved away from each other so as to separate the first and second members from each other. A photographing unit performs a photographing operation and an exposed portion protecting member protects an exposed portion of the information input unit when the information processing apparatus is placed on a plain surface with the outer surface of the second member facing the plain surface. The information display unit provided in the first member includes a display for displaying photographic image information obtained by the photographing unit, and the information input unit provided in the second member includes at least one of: (i) a photographic conditions setting device for setting various photographing conditions of the photographing unit, and (ii) a shutter release device for controlling a shutter of the photographing unit.

Portable information processing apparatus

A portable information processing apparatus includes a first member provided with an information display unit and a second member provided with an information input unit. The first member has an outer surface for exposing the information display unit, and the second member has an outer surface for exposing the information input unit. A hinge member connects the first and second members with each other so that the first and second members are pivotable between: (i) a portable position in which the first and second members overlap such that the outer surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member oppose each other, and (ii) an open position in which the outer surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member are moved away from each other. An angle detector detects at least one of an angle of substantially 180.degree. and 360.degree. between the first and second members while the first and second members are rotated in the open position. A photographing unit can perform a photographing operation when the angle detector detects at least one of 180.degree. and 360.degree. between the first and second members. The information display unit provided in the first member includes a display for displaying photographic image information obtained by the photographing unit. The information input unit provided in the second member includes at least one of: (i) a photographic conditions setting device for setting various photographing conditions of the photographing unit, and (ii) a shutter release device for controlling a shutter of the photographing unit.

Growing community of inventors

Sagamihara, Japan

Yasuo Isashi