View finder optical system with eye direction detection device

A view finder optical system including a window of an eye piece portion comprising an eye cup having a contact surface, a shape of the contact surface being made so as to incline an axis of the lens with respect to an axis of the eye piece. The shape of the contact surface is curved corresponding to the lens's shape. The contact surface is made so as to conform to a lens of glasses.

Skip to:  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History

Claims

1. A view finder optical system of a camera including a window for an eye piece portion comprising an eye cup having a contact surface;

said contact surface being made so as to conform to a lens of eyeglasses, said contact surface being shaped so as to incline an axis of said lens with respect to an axis of said eye piece portion;
said camera has means for emitting a light beam to an eye through said eye piece portion, and means for detecting a reflected light beam from the eye.

2. A view finder optical system according to claim 1, wherein said contact surface is concave to incline the lens of the eyeglasses downwardly.

3. A view finder optical system according to claim 1, wherein said contact surface has a concave surface;

said concave surface is directed leftwardly or rightwardly in accordance with the lens of the eyeglasses.

4. A view finder optical system of a camera including a window for an eye piece portion comprising an eye cup having a contact surface;

said contact surface being made so as to conform to a lens of eyeglasses, said contact surface being shaped so as to incline an axis of said lens with respect to an axis of said eye piece portion;
said camera has an eye direction detecting device, said device includes a projection optical system for projecting parallel light to an eye through said eye piece portion, and a receiving optical system including a receiving element, and said device detecting reflected light from the eye.

5. A view finder optical system according to claim 4, wherein said contact surface is curved to conform to the shape of said lens.

6. A view finder optical system according to claim 4, wherein said contact surface is concave to incline said lens.

7. An optical system including a window for an eye piece portion comprising:

an eye cup having a contact surface, said contact surface being shaped so as to conform to a lens of eyeglasses and so that an axis of said lens is inclined with respect to an axis of said eye piece portion;
an eye direction detecting device including a projection optical system for projecting parallel light to an eye through said eye piece portion, and a receiving optical system having a receiving element, said device detecting reflected light from the eye.

8. An optical system according to claim 7, wherein said contact surface is curved to conform to the shape of said lens.

9. An optical system according to claim 7, wherein said contact surface is concave to incline said lens..Iadd.

10. A viewfinder optical system comprising:

a projection optical system that is adapted to project a ray of light towards an eye of an operator when the eye and an eyeglass lens worn by the operator are positioned to view an image through the viewfinder optical system;
an eyepiece having an optical axis;
a receiving optical system that is adapted to detect light projected by said projection optical system and reflected from the eye of the operator; and
a system that directs light projected from said projection optical system and reflected by said eyeglass lens away from said optical axis of said eyepiece..Iaddend..Iadd.

11. A viewfinder optical system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said system that directs light is adapted to additionally direct said light projected from said projection optical system and reflected by said eyeglass lens away from an optical axis of said receiving optical system..Iaddend..Iadd.12. A viewfinder optical system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said system that directs said light projected from said projection optical system and reflected by said eyeglass lens is adapted to direct said light projected from said projection optical system and reflected by said eyeglass lens away from a sensor forming a portion of said receiving optical system..Iaddend..Iadd.13. A viewfinder optical system of a camera adapted for use by an operator wearing an eyeglass lens, comprising:

an eyepiece;
a projection optical system which is adapted to project a ray of light toward an eye of the operator when the eye and said eyeglass lens are positioned to view an image through said viewfinder optical system, said projection optical system having an optical axis and said eyeglass lens having an optical axis, said eyepiece and said projection optical system being positioned with respect to each other so that said projection optical axis and said eyeglass lens optical axis are inclined with respect to each other..Iaddend..Iadd.14. The viewfinder optical system of claim 13, further comprising a receiving optical system that detects light projected from said projection optical system and reflected from the eye of the operator..Iaddend..Iadd.15. A viewfinder optical system in accordance with claim 14, said eyepiece having an optical axis coaxial with said optical axis of said receiving optical system..Iaddend..Iadd.16. A viewfinder optical system in accordance with claim 15, said eyepiece having an optical axis coaxial with said optical axis of said light projected from said projection optical system..Iaddend.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2381101 August 1945 Bausch
3738238 June 1973 Hager
3842431 October 1974 Sakuma
4264123 April 28, 1981 Mabie
4381892 May 3, 1983 Someya
4523818 June 18, 1985 Lang et al.
4576459 March 18, 1986 Miura et al.
4630903 December 23, 1986 Jones
4659197 April 21, 1987 Weinblatt
4828381 May 9, 1989 Shindo
5036347 July 30, 1991 Tsunekawa et al.
5260734 November 9, 1993 Shindo
5262807 November 16, 1993 Shindo
5291234 March 1, 1994 Shindo et al.
5293535 March 8, 1994 Sensui
5327191 July 5, 1994 Shindo et al.
5485241 January 16, 1996 Irie et al.
5485404 January 16, 1996 Shindo
Foreign Patent Documents
241511 September 1989 JPX
1241511 September 1989 JPX
6-86758 March 1994 JPX
Patent History
Patent number: RE36237
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 28, 1996
Date of Patent: Jun 29, 1999
Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo)
Inventor: Osamu Shindo (Tokyo)
Primary Examiner: A. A. Mathews
Law Firm: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C.
Application Number: 8/703,935